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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1997)
Summer learnin’ Internships make students marketable for real world By Kimberly Swartz Staff Reporter April Warford didn’t wish upon a star for the most magical summer of her life. Nor did she ask her fairy godmother for a two-month Florida vacation. A good interview, a full resume and a pleasant personality landed the junior marketing major an internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Warford says she went on the internship alone in May and didn't know exactly what to expect. “When I was leaving I was cry ing and scared,” she said. “But who wouldn’t be, if they were about to work for a Fortune 500 company?” Warford is just one of more than 225 students at UNL who par ticipated in summer internships. Marcia Phelps, associate direc tor of career services and coordina tor of the Student Employment and Internship Center, said that intern ships are a good way for students to get hands-on work experience and to get their foot in the door. “They are an incredible experi ence because a student becomes ' more marketable and they learn confidence and success in the workplace,” Phelps said. Some internships are paid, and m Act I I ATT aaIIaaac oil /ax \ r rturlanto to earn credit for their work, she said. Students usually work during the summer before their junior or senior years, but they should begin { to apply their sophomore year, I Phelps said. Many internships can be found as close as Lincoln, throughout Nebraska, across the nation and even overseas, Phelps said. For Warford, her journey began in March when Disney representa tives came to UNL to interview more than 200 students for the Walt Disney College Relations Program. The program allows students to take classes and self-study courses related to their major. They also can shadow’ Disney executives for a day, she said. And the price is right. Warford said. She paid a $65 weekly fee that covered housing and classes. Her internship also included free admission into all parks and dis count prices in many stores and restaurants in Florida. Warford enrolled in a manage ment class where she learned how to run a successful business like the Walt Disney World Co. “I was able to see behind the scenes and learn first hand how to 66 Its important to keep the pressure on. Let the company know that you re interested Jason Leifert KETV intern market products and catch a cus tomer’s eye.” Warford said she expected to learn more about management while she studied in the Magic Kingdom but she never thought she would learn so much about herself. “I became much more open minded, patient and culturally aware because I was working with so many different people,” she said. “It was one of the best times of my life.” Senior Jason Leifert found his summer internship closer to home. He only had to flip on the television to watch his mentor, KETV meteo rologist Bill Randby report the weather. As a meteorology and climatol ogy major, Leifert has spent many hours studying maps in class, but working during actual severe weather proved to be an important lesson. He observed meteorologists tracking the weather. Randby taught him to read maps, and Leifert was videotaped practicing a weather report. “We were having crazy weather. Thunderstorms and tornado warn ings were constantly being issued," Leifert said. “Everyone w'as stressed but they kept things under control.” Leifert began his search for an internship last spring by sending his resume to three Omaha televi sion stations. Randby responded and they set up a two-month intern ship. The key to finding an interest ing position, Leifert said, is to be persistent and apply at many com panies. “It’s important to just keep the pressure on,” Leifert said. “Let the company know that you’re interest ed.” Many students begin their internship search like senior Amanda Schluns did. The clothing and design major enrolled at the SEIC office hoping to find a posi tion in retail. At SEIC, Schluns found intern ship listings and advisors that could help her search for a position. hventually, she set up a six week internship with Kohl’s Department Store. She worked as a paid associate and developed a training manual for new employ ees. Schluns also met with the store’s district manager, and was offered to interview in October for a corporate position. “I wouldn’t have the interview without my internship,” she said. “It was a great experience, and I learned so much about the retail industry.” While many students seek out internships for real life experience, others turn to them hoping to find career direction. “Internships help students con firm if they are in the right direc tion, and if not they can redirect before it is too late,” Phelps said. Junior Heather Davis wants to find her course as she continues to intern at the Lighthouse, a place for high risk teen-agers. The psychology major hasn’t decided what field she wants to specialize in, but she thinks intern ing will help her make that choice. Davis spends her time at Lighthouse talking and playing pool with teens. She tries to keep them busy so they will stay out of trouble and off the streets, Davis said. The internship has been an “eye-opening experience” for Davis. She said she was raised in a different environment and knew that not everyone grew up with a supportive network of family and friends. “I hear people complain they have such a hard life because they don’t have this or that,” she said. “But they have everything com pared to these kids who have to deal with gangs and drugs every day.” Davis has her time at Lighthouse rewarding, and she rec ommends internships to other stu dents. “They can be a lot of fun, and you learn so much that you could never learn in a classroom,” Davis said. “It is an experience I will never forget.” Student football tickets sell out slower I From Staff Reports Going, going, gone. The entire allotment of about 8,000 student football tickets for Nebraska Comhuskers home games sold out July 20, about a month later than last year, said John Anderson, ticket office manager. Tickets went on sale in April. Tickets sold out quicker last year because of the Huskers’ second con secutive national championship. “Coming off a national champi onship always boosts sales,” Anderson said. Tickets remain for only two away games. Tickets for the Nov. 8 game against Missouri are $25 each and the Oct. 11 game against Baylor are $30. The games against Washington and Colorado are sold out. Tickets for the Oct. 25 migration game against Kansas go on sale Sept. 22-26. Tickets cost $40 and, 750 student tickets will be available This season tickets for full-tims students were the same price as las season, $87.50. Students, unles: they are married or have depen dents, are allowed only one set o tickets. Students who bought seasoi tickets can pick them up Monday through Friday at the outside win dow of the South Stadium. Full-tim< status will be verified with studen identifications. Jf I ' ' iMr In Touch & Ingenious For $99 you receive no bill for one year and your next year is only $6.95 a month. 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