NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nissan North America, Inc., and The 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee partnered for the 3rd Annual Nissan Resume Challenge on Feb. 23-24, 2016.
This two-day developmental workshop offers local high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to build their resume and learn interview skills through a series of workshops and interviews conducted by The 100 Black Men and local Nissan executives. Selected students met at Nissan's headquarters in Franklin, toured the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant and visited Nissan Stadium.
"Nissan is excited to partner with The 100 Black Men organization for the third consecutive year joining students from other 100 Black Men chapters from Atlanta, Chicago, Jackson, Mississippi, and Washington, D.C., in Nashville," said Jeffrey Webster, Nissan's director of Diversity & Inclusion. "We bring these young men in to give them training on leadership development, building their resume and teaching them interview techniques."
The 100 Black Men chapters who participate in this program are involved in recruiting and supporting the young men from the interview process in mid-January, in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, to the finalists' attendance at the Challenge as part of Black History Month.
"This is such a wonderful program that Nissan puts together where we can empower these young men as they are beginning their career path," said Titans Vice President of Marketing and Broadcast & Digital Rights, Ralph Ockenfels. "These are very impressive young men that want to study anything from biomechanics to engineering to chemistry to whatever field they want to pursue. Bringing them here to Nissan Stadium and, from the Titans perspective, being a small part of that is obviously a thrill for us."
This year's event featured two surprise celebrity guests, retired NBA player, Charlie Ward and Tennessee Titans running back Dexter McCluster.
Nissan North America, Inc. and The 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee partner for the 3rd Annual Nissan Resume Challenge on Feb. 23-24, 2016.
Charlie Ward, a Heisman Trophy winner at Florida State University and the 26th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, welcomed the group and spoke about his path to NBA stardom with the New York Knicks. He shared with the students that he relishes the opportunity to share his story with young people – the highs and the lows – what it looks like, what it feels like, but also understanding that it just doesn't happen. According to Ward, "It's great to partner with Nissan and share what it means to be successful."
Dexter McCluster spoke to the students about overcoming obstacles and challenges. "It's all in the heart," said McCluster. "It's impossible for this small guy to be scoring these touchdowns, and running over these big guys. I used all the negativity as fuel. I was built to do this. I am thankful, and the sky is the limit. If you want it and you can see it, go get it."
The afternoon included fun activities such as photos with the Heisman trophy, giveaways and stadium tours. Titans' cheerleaders, Brandi and Travona, signed autographs and posed for pictures.
Nissan supports its global vision of enriching people's lives by offering customers unparalleled products and services and by improving the quality of life in the communities where it operates.
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