| Successful Internships Benefit Student and Employer |
06.25.12 |
|
Internships are intended to give students hands-on experience that complements their coursework and prepares them for a “real job” after graduation. In some cases, interns are assigned projects that are critical to an organization’s success.
Collin Habecker ’12 spent his final semester as a business administration major interning at Quest Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides vocational opportunities for people with disabilities in Lebanon. He worked under the supervision of David Richardson ’09, project coordinator, who capitalized on Habecker’s business knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit to create the first retailable product for Quest.
Habecker was charged with creating a business plan for Quest to assemble and sell affordable emergency survival kits to the community. “My LVC education in modern business organizations and entrepreneurship prepared me for the project,” he said, “and my liberal arts background provided me with creativity. Though I didn’t have any real experience before the internship, I knew what to do.”
“Collin really owned this project from beginning to end,” Richardson said. “We discussed the concept, big-picture impact, and the projected outcome, and he ran with it.”
Working just two days per week during the spring semester, Habecker researched and wrote the business plan for the emergency survival kits, and eventually presented the plan to Quest’s board, which gave him the stamp of approval. On April 30, Quest’s employees shifted into production mode and began the initial assembly of 250 “Survival Go Kits.” The kits are now available for purchase at http://www.paquest.com/survivalkitatquestinc.html, and signify a change in Quest’s business model.
“As nonprofits like Quest receive less and less funding from the government, we have to be creative in our revenue streams,” Richardson said. “The survival kit serves a dual purpose. We employ people with disabilities in the assembly process, giving them meaningful work each day, but we also benefit from the sale of the kit.”
Richardson thanks Habecker for bringing the project to fruition. “This was the first internship offered through my department, and Collin did an amazing job with the project. We’re looking forward to the work of future interns and the possibilities that come along with a young, knowledgeable, and creative spirit.”
Beyond the hands-on experience, Habecker is grateful that the internship exposed him to the nonprofit world. “We talked in my organizational behavior class about ‘motivating factors,’ and that you only get so far with pay. What motivated me here was the result – my job means something. Before my internship I was thinking, ‘What big corporation will I sign with?’ Now, I’m also considering work in the nonprofit realm.”
Internships are a vital part of the collegiate experience. Current students should contact the Office of Career Services for assistance in finding and securing internships during their academic careers. Alumni and community organizations interested in providing internship opportunities for LVC students should call 717-867-6560 or register and post the opportunity on Job Center.
|
|
|