Vernon student attends national conference

Matthew Hackett of Vernon, a senior at William Paterson University in Wayne, was among a team of five students from the university who attended the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association’s national conference in Charlotte, N.C., recently. During their stay, students and staff participated in workshops on training officials, motivating staff and managing a recreational facility. Students had the chance to learn about graduate assistantships from colleges and universities across the country and used a site called bluefishjobs.com that helped streamline the process and make it more interactive. Students could periodically check their mailboxes in hopes that a university was interested in interviewing them. In some cases a decision was made at the conclusion of an interview. Attending the conference affords students an opportunity to find a free path to earning a master’s degree, Hackett said. “The interview experience alone is a great stepping stone for any student.” Hackett, a 2004 graduate of Vernon High, plans to pursue a job in physical education or recreational services.