Career Center - Internships
In addition to the on-line internship resources listed below, we maintain a large number of internship openings in the office, including a computerized internship database. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact our internship coordinator: David Harden Phone: (812) 866-7129 Email: harden@hanover.edu
IndianaINTERN.net (A complete list of internships in Indiana)
ERecruiting (Offers numerous resources for students looking at internship possibilities)
Internship Related Links | Publications
Internship enhances children's state fair experience
Stephanie Jones '08 (Brownsburg, Ind.) did more than eat funnel cakes and go on rides this summer at the Indiana State Fair. During her internship there, the communication major worked with two other interns to develop a new family adventure for elementary / middle school age children and their families.
The Wonder Trail is an interactive program featuring 16 interactive stops throughout the fair, designed to teach kids about Indiana agriculture. Jones, who is also pursuing elementary education certification, used the skills she learned in the classroom to develop the curriculum for three of the trail's stops.
One stop is "Daria, the Digestion Cow." Jones worked with children ages six to 14, teaching them about bovine nutrition, the four chambers in a cow's stomach (using a model of a cow she designed), and how a cow's nutrition effects milk production. The curriculum for each of the stops met Indiana Educational Standards, making them attractive for school field trips, home school educators and family fun.
Jones also organized and administered the Home School Day at the fair. Her initiative and leadership caught the attention of her supervisor, Justin Armstrong. He said that due to her excellent organization and marketing skills for the event, initial numbers of home school families far exceeded expectations.
If those tasks weren't enough, Jones also gave tours at the Traders Point Creamery, a dairy owned and operated by the Indiana State Fair, as well as helped organize and prepare four commercials about The Wonder Trail, which have aired on WFYI, the Indianapolis PBS TV station and on the IMAX at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. In addition to getting the props ready and writing script, she also did voice-overs for the commercial aired at the Children's Museum.
Armstrong added that Jones was so competent in her assigned tasks that he felt comfortable giving her more responsibility. At times, he was concerned that he might overwhelm her with work, but she continually produced more than was expected.
"Stephanie was a great find," he said. "A true gem … she did all the necessary work to become extraordinary."
"The most rewarding part is getting to see what takes place behind the scenes in an organization of this caliber and seeing it all come together," she said in an interview with the Hendricks County Flyer.
Jones' exemplary work and leadership during her internship at the State Fair has led to an offer for full-time employment after her graduation in next spring.
For more on The Wonder Trail, go to www.in.gov/statefair/barn/ed/statefair.html