TFCU Joins 21 Organizations In Catalina High School Mock Interview Program

TFCU Community Impact Manager Robyn Austin along with In-Branch Trainers Andrea Morales Luna and Damien Sims served as professional interviewers during the three-hour program in the CHS Library.
“At TFCU, we believe our high school students are the spark for Tucson’s future,” said TFCU President & CEO Matthew Gaspari. “Participating in this program ignites their confidence and opens doors to possibility. We are proud that TFCU team members are investing their time and expertise in helping future leaders.”
The highly structured event provided students with multiple real-world interview experiences and immediate feedback, which are critical competencies for successful transition from education to employment.
The program opened with an introduction by CHS Business teacher and FBLA moderator Karl Oxnam, followed by introductions from the FBLA student board members, which included a presentation of its annual report highlighting 32 leadership activities and progress toward national recognition.
Activities kicked off with an icebreaker that encouraged students to introduce themselves to as many professionals as possible within one minute. Students competed to collect a four-card suit from a 24-karat gold foil playing card set designed to resemble Benjamin Franklin $100 bills by completing all three checkpoints—an incentive that channeled student motivation into professional networking practice. The activity set a dynamic tone for the day’s professional development focus.
Today’s event included an invitation to THMS’s FBLA team with Career and Technical Education (CTE) business management teacher Pam Dominguez coordinating to maximize student participation. Next week, CHS FBLA students will be back in competition-mode at a regional event.
Representatives from twenty-one participating organizations–including AZPM, Frontier Towing, the Pima County Superintendent’s Office and Merril Lynch–retirees and volunteers from Junior Achievement used standardized scoresheets and a set of standard interview questions to evaluate students. Afterwards, students had 1-minute to ask any questions, restate why they think they are the best candidate, and thank the interviewer for their time. Interviewers had 1-minute for notes and then delivered constructive feedback on professionalism, interview skills, and the overall presentation.
A 1986 Catalina High School graduate, Oxnam returned to his original classroom in 2024 after 13 years in TUSD’s central office. Under his leadership, he has developed one of Arizona’s premier CTE programs where students achieve 100% Microsoft Office certification and consistently earn the highest scores statewide on the two-year final assessment.
“The caliber of these students is exceptional,” Oxnam noted. “Some are skilled enough to earn scholarships and immediate employment opportunities with participating companies.”
TFCU’s participation aligns with the credit union’s strategic focus on education and economic opportunity within the communities it serves. The organization regularly engages in initiatives that support youth development, career readiness, and economic mobility.
 

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