More than 100 suits donated to Montana Technological University’s Career Closet

Montana Technological University’s students will look sharp at the spring Career Fair and upcoming job interviews after a major donation of more than 100 suits from Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Student Success and Internship Coordinator Cynthia Wier and Director of Career Services Aaron Frale were excited when Jerry Rodriguez, Uniform Manager from Yellowstone National Park called and offered the suits.

Yellowstone National Park Lodges reports the donation was part of their effort to leave a Softer Footprint® in the environment through sustainability practices.

“This was a great opportunity for us to help the university and help prepare students for their next journey,” the company said in a statement.

Director of Outdoor Life Katie Bigbee traveled to Gardiner to pick up the clothing. Each suit was laid out flat to fill the hatchback and back seat of her Subaru Outback. The donation meets critical needs of the Career Closet, which houses more than 600 pieces of professional clothing, including everything from ties and dress shoes to scarves, pant suits and dresses. Students can take what they need for free.

“Professional clothing is not something you necessarily think of as an item you take with you to college, but it is an item that is very helpful to have,” Frale said.

All students can utilize the Career Closet, but international students can find it particularly useful, as it can sometimes be difficult to fit a full wardrobe into a suitcase for a transnational move. The Career Closet is a very popular resource, and with certain items in high demand. The Career Closet aims to have styles for all body types, but sometimes that’s challenging because donations come from professionals of all ages, who may not necessarily have the same build as younger college students.

“We were running low on the smaller pants sizes and smaller jacket tops,” Wier said. “A lot of the suits donated by Yellowstone National Park were in those smaller sizes. The size was one of the biggest benefits.”

Shortly after the suits were delivered, a student came in and immediately found one of the smaller sizes they needed. The high-quality items are expected to last students a long while.

“They are all brand new and have never been used,” Frale said. “The biggest overall impact is that the students will have something that is machine washable and can be used for career fairs or an interview.”

Donations can be made to the Career Services office in the University Relations Center, anytime other than the week of Career Fair. Current needs include women’s styles in full matching sets, flats, shoes and belts. There is an overabundance of ties at the moment.

For more information, contact Career Services at 406-496-4140.