Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 8, 2017, at the 11th Annual IMPACT Awards Luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nominees’ successes.
These are their stories.
Megan McKinney is a senior at Ball State University graduating in June 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. She interned with Ontario Systems in the security and compliance department.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did you like your internship with Ontario Systems?
Megan McKinney: My internship at Ontario Systems was a huge blessing for me. I was able to enhance my knowledge in cybersecurity, computer networking and project management. I have been very blessed to have several mentors that I have been there for me through it all.
IIN: What was a major project you completed?
MM: I implemented a cross departmental project that revoked administrative rights from users, and created white and blacklisting for websites and software. I gathered information and took part in the PCI, ISO 27001, and ISO 9001 external audits.
IIN: How has your nomination for IMPACT Awards impacted your life?
MM: Being nominated for the IMPACT awards was just what I needed. My senior year has been incredibly difficult, and at times I feel like I’m not performing as well as I should be at work and school. When I received the email that my boss, Rick Clark, had nominated me for the intern of the year award, I knew that I was doing well and that I was going to be able to push through my senior year.
IIN: What are your plans and goals post-graduation?
MM: I will be moving to Chicago to work as a business analyst in an international consulting firm. I chose the job because I will be working directly with the cybersecurity division, and my hope is that I will be able to migrate over into that division.
My long-term goal is to come back to Indiana and become a security director, just like my boss. I hope that I will get the chance to employ an intern, so I can give back all of the good that Rick and Ontario Systems have given me.
IIN: I understand that philanthropy is an important piece of the internship program at Ontario Systems. Could you describe the volunteer activities you participated in?
MM: Ontario Systems gives each intern six hours to volunteer in the community during the summer internship program. As a group, the interns met up and decided what volunteer activities we wanted to complete. We chose Fresh Directions and the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF).
Fresh Directions is a soup kitchen in Muncie that provides breakfast and lunch throughout the summer since kids are no longer in school.
ARF is no-kill animal shelter in Muncie. Our job at ARF was to clean up the property, pull weeds, water the plants, clean out the cages, and wash the animals. Of course, we were able to run around and play with some of the pets as well!
