By: Jessica Mills
The School of Design puts its students on a pedestal for the upcoming Internship Showcase. Interns will share their experiences at the virtual event on Friday, November 12, 2021.
The showcase is a space for students to network, find an internship, learn from other students, and hear from employers. It is free and everyone is welcome to attend.
Internship Director, Sonya Lawyer, organizes the showcase and prepares students for their job experiences. She wants attending students to “learn about all the different opportunities that are out there.”
The Showcase will include a student and employer panel from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer poster session from 1:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The showcase requires registration for each session to gain access to the virtual Zoom calls.
In addition to sharing the day-to-day of their internship, participating student interns talk about the academic courses that helped prepare them for their role, their biggest takeaways, and advice for students hoping to intern at the location.
Amanda Hostalka, Dean for the School of Design, said the Showcase highlights the importance of telling others what can be learned in the ‘real world.’
“The internship showcase is an incredible opportunity for our students to share with the community what they’ve learned and how they’ve grown because of their internship experiences,” Dean Hostalka said.
Student interns from the School of Design represent a variety of majors including business communication, communication studies, fashion design, film, and moving images, and graphic design. “Normally we have 2 interns per department,” Lawyer said, “but since we have a Summer cohort this time, we added more people and are expected to have 12 to 14 interns presenting.”
Those interns who choose not to actively participate in the Showcase are nevertheless acknowledged there for their hard work.
The employer panel allows students and faculty to hear directly from active professionals. “Anywhere between 5 and 15 employers attend any given showcase,” Lawyer said. With the showcase transitioning to a virtual event the past three semesters, Stevenson is “get(ting) more (employer) participation” than ever before.
The Showcase is designed for students and faculty to learn exactly what employers look for in potential student interns. Dean Hostalka said, “It is always rewarding and affirming to hear from our employers about the talent, work ethic, professionalism, and skills our students bring to bear in their internships.”
The poster session consists of break-out rooms and those who attend can move from room to room at their own pace. This allows interested students to speak directly with interns, ask questions and learn more about their work. “Networking and meeting other students who have an interest that is related to theirs is the most important part of the showcase,” said Lawyer.
The School of Design Internship Showcase is an anticipated event for both students and faculty. Dean Hostalka said, “Our entire School of Design community comes together to celebrate our student’s successes, to learn from our employers, and to be inspired.”
If you’re interested in signing up for the School of Design Internship Showcase on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, you can register at the links below.
Intern and Employer Panel 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM: https://bit.ly/SUSODFA21Panels
Poster Session 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM: https://bit.ly/SUSODFA21PosterSession
Notes: There will also be a Lunch & Learn event on Monday, November 8, 2021, with Campbell Soup Company. Representatives from that famous American brand will be present to talk about their internship program. Lawyer said, “This will be a virtual event to learn about the opportunities (Campbell’s has) all over the United States.”
In order to attend this exciting event, click through this link to register: https://bit.ly/LunchLearnCampbell