FRCF’s Scholars Council is committed to providing scholarship recipients with more than just financial support. Through the Council, recipients have access to internships, jobs, career advice, mentorship, skills development, and leadership opportunities. One of the exciting initiatives of the Council is the Speaker Summit, which is held each semester.

Our upcoming summit will be held on Thursday, June 1st at 7pm, so make sure to mark your calendars! Ray Donovan, COO of the Drug Enforcement Agency, and Rich Wuerthele, President and CEO of Crayola will be joining us for an exciting conversation. 

Ray Donovan has over 26 years of experience at the DEA and is the Chief of Operations and Assistant Administrator for the Operations Division. He has led investigations and enforcement operations against many of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the capture of Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera commonly known as “El Chapo”. Currently, Mr. Donovan oversees the DEA’s extensive operations in 240 U.S. offices and 93 foreign offices across 69 countries, providing strategic guidance to the Special Operations Division. His dedication and expertise drive the DEA’s mission to combat global drug trafficking and protect communities.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of Crayola, Rich Wuerthele has a deep understanding of the importance of creativity in children’s lives. He leads Crayola’s global business, providing strategic direction and vision for the company and brand. Mr. Wuerthele is committed to fulfilling Crayola’s mission of helping parents and educators raise creatively alive children. Under his leadership, Crayola has made significant contributions to inclusivity. Most recently, Crayola launched “Colors of the World,” a product line featuring crayons, markers, and coloring books that represent different skin tones, capturing 99% of all skin tones worldwide.

Our previous summit in March was a tremendous success, featuring guest speaker Pam Policastri, a seasoned recruiter with experience at notable companies such as Microsoft, Expedia, Chewy, and TripAdvisor. Pam shared her expertise on the “Do’s and Don’ts of Resume Building and Interviewing,” providing our scholars with valuable insights and tips. She took the time to discuss resume building, LinkedIn strategies, and interviewing skills, making her presentation both engaging and incredibly informative.

During the summit, scholars had the opportunity to share their thoughts on what makes a good resume versus a bad resume. They also learned about the importance of optimizing their LinkedIn profiles with keywords so that recruiters can easily find them. Pam also emphasized the value of using business resource centers on campus and shared essential interviewing skills.

We are grateful to have had Pam lend her expertise to our scholars, and we look forward to continuing this partnership with her. The Speaker Summit is just one of the many ways that FRCF is committed to helping our scholars achieve their goals and reach their full potential.