Category Archives: IMPACT Awards

Many employers are seeking talent and want high quality candidates to employ in Indiana. Part of Indiana INTERNnet’s goal is to connect employers with talent to retain and develop Indiana’s workforce. Internships are becoming more relevant in today’s workforce and provide students with valuable experiences. Indiana INTERNnet connects employers with talent and connects students with internship opportunities.

Every year we recognize the hard work and contribution to communities by interns, employers, and various professionals with our IMPACT Awards Luncheon, and this year we had a record-breaking number of nominations! The 13th annual IMPACT Awards Luncheon was held on Tuesday, February 22. Individuals and companies were recognized in the following categories: Intern of the Year (College, High School, and Non-Traditional), Intern Supervisor of the Year, Career Development Professional of the Year, and Employer of the Year (For-Profit and Non-Profit).

We recognize these categories because they all contribute to internship excellence. Various types of …

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On February 26, 2019, Indiana INTERNnet will host a gathering of some of the state’s top interns, employers, supervisors and career development professionals in a celebration of internship excellence. The event – which will take place at the Ritz Charles Ballrooms in Carmel – will honor seven winners in the categories of Intern of the Year (high school, college and non-traditional), Career Development Professional of the Year, Employer of the Year (non-profit and for-profit) and Intern Supervisor of the Year.

This year, in lieu of a guest speaker, the IMPACT Awards luncheon will feature a different format: three to four-minute on-stage conversations with each winner led by Indiana Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Communications Tom Schuman.

This format change comes from a desire to emphasize the power of Indiana’s internships, professionals and employers. Everyone in attendance can gain valuable insight into what makes for a winning employer, …

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Lots of employers take on interns.  Plenty of professionals will tell you the importance of a structured intern program. But sometimes it’s easy to get lost in the handling of day to day tasks. For most interns, this role is their first experience of the “real world” of their desired career path. It can be overwhelming, stressful, and completely new. This makes it crucial to recognize your interns when they do great work.

Whether positive or negative, feedback is necessary.

One of the signs of a successful internship program is constant feedback. There should be some type of schedule laid out for performance reviews or self-evaluation, and outlining tasks and goals. Of course, sometimes there is a need for constructive criticism. But don’t let that be all your intern hears from you! Positive reinforcement, while it seems trivial, goes a long way. Recognizing your intern when they succeed with an …

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Indiana INTERNnet is now accepting nominations for the 13th annual IMPACT Awards, an annual celebration of internship excellence. We encourage you to complete the online nomination form and share how a person or organization has made an impact by committing to internship excellence. The deadline for nominations is October 31, 2018.

Have a question about the nominations process or awards luncheon? Check out the answers to our frequently asked IMPACT Awards questions. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, contact INTERNnet@indianachamber.com.

What are the awards categories?

Intern of the Year (3) High School College Non-Traditional *High school and college interns must be enrolled in school during the time of their internship in 2018. The non-traditional category is for an intern who was not an enrolled student at the time of the internship or was 26 years old or older during the internship. Career Development Professional of the Year (1) *This individual must be a …

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Indiana INTERNnet focuses on talent retention through increased work-and-learn experiences. More than a decade ago, it began the tradition of celebrating internship excellence by launching the annual IMPACT Awards. Each year, the program continues to grow in size and success.

The IMPACT Awards, presented at an annual luncheon, have traditionally honored three categories: Interns of the Year, Employers of the Year and a Career Development Professional of the Year.

Intern of the Year Awards recognize individuals who have had a positive impact on the organization for which they intern. Three interns will receive this award, one for each of the following sub-categories: high school, college and non-traditional. High school and college interns must be enrolled in school during the time of the internship for which they are nominated. The non-traditional category is for interns who were not students at the time of their internship or were 26 years old or …

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Hello, my name is Marissa and I am excited to be Indiana INTERNnet’s intern for the summer of 2018. I have just wrapped up my junior year at IUPUI, where I study journalism, public relations and advertising.

Prior to relocating to Indianapolis for college, I attended high school near my hometown of Losantville, Ind. Though Indy is a relatively small city, it is huge compared to Losantville, which has a population of less than 300 people! I definitely prefer city living and plan to move somewhere even larger later on in my career.

My previous positions have all been communications or event management related, taking place at locally-based organizations such as the Indiana State Museum, Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis, and Indiana Futsal. In addition to my new position here, I am also currently interning with HWC Engineering as part of the firm’s pilot program creating public relations plans for …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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.

Joseph Slaby graduated from Indiana State University in the spring of 2017 with a degree in accounting.  He completed an internship with Kemper CPA Group in Terre Haute.

Indiana INTERNnet: What made you interested in going back to school for accounting?

Joseph Slaby: I graduated from Indiana State University in spring of 2017. I initially attended Ivy Tech and earned a two-year degree and later decided to go back to school in order to order to have more opportunities with a four-year degree. Accounting was a field I was drawn to because my senior year of high school was in 2008-2009—which is when the massive economic downturn occurred. During those months I …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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

Emma Fort is a recent graduate at IUPUI double majoring in Biology and Forensic & Investigative Science. She completed an internship with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Indiana INTERNnet: Describe your experience with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (TCM). What were your favorite aspects?

Emma Fort: I interned with The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in the STEMLab and SciencePort area as a science programs intern, where I designed a program to teach kids about medical diagnostic testing. Easily one of my favorite aspects was the wonderful people I got to meet and work with during my time at The Museum. In addition, I loved how much freedom I had on the project …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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 storiesKaitlin Carroll is a senior at Ball State University studying Natural Resources and Environmental Management with a minor in Communications.  She completed an internship with Bowman Creek Educational Ecosystem in South Bend, IN.

Indiana INTERNnet: What made you interested in pursuing Natural Resources and Environmental Management?
Kaitlin Carroll: I am majoring in Natural Resources and Environmental Management and minoring in Communication. I’ve always loved being outside and as I got older, I realized I could make a career out of protecting Indiana’s beautiful resources. I also love people, which is why I pursued a minor in Communication.

IIN: Describe your experience with BCe2.
KC: Interns, including myself, worked on various sustainability projects …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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

Rachel Moore is a sophomore at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN.  She is studying Environmental Geosciences.  Rachel completed an internship during the summer with the Indiana State Fair in their Entry and Competitions Department.

Indiana INTERNnet: What was your experience like with the Indiana State Fair? What were your favorite aspects?

Rachel Moore: Throughout this experience, I was able to meet and network with many young professional college students like myself and build relationships. From this internship, I gained a better understanding of event planning skills, customer relations, as well as the ability to keep pushing through hard times no matter what. The overall takeaways I earned from this internship is an increase …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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

Camisa Vines is a senior at John Adams High School and is expecting to graduate in June 2018.

Indiana INTERNnet: Are you planning to attend college? If so, what school(s) and major/minor are you considering?
Camisa Vines: I plan on attending Purdue University and majoring in computer information technology and/or computer science. I am also considering a minor in Sports Media or some sort of graphic design.

IIN: Describe your internship with South Bend Code School.
CV: Within my internship, I instruct younger students how to build games and websites.

IIN: How did you become interested in coding and computer programming?
CV: For as long as I can remember, …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Administration in August 2017.  Last year she completed an internship with Infection Control at Union Hospital in Terre Haute.

Indiana INTERNnet: Describe your experience with Union Hospital.

Nicole Heath: My experience exceeded my expectations. My supervisor, Joe McKanna, was incredible. He included me in everything that he could to expand my experience and my knowledge. My internship project was to research, develop, and implement a closed point of dispensing (POD) plan for the hospital. Essentially, if a public health emergency, such as an outbreak, were to occur, the hospital has a plan to medicate all its …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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.

Jessica VandenBoom is a freshman at Grace college majoring in Facility and Event Management and Marketing.  Last summer, she completed a marketing internship with Phoenix America, Inc.

Indiana INTERNnet: Describe your experience with Phoenix America, Inc. What were your favorite aspects of the internship?

Jessica VandenBoom: My marketing internship was at Phoenix America Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They produce sensors, encoders, and other magnetic solutions. My summer assignment was to create updated and easy-to-understand product data sheets for each for each of their parts and then translate that information onto a newly created website. My favorite part of the position was being entrusted with a project that I was solely responsible …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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.

Jie Chen graduated from Indiana State University in August of 2017.  She majored in health science and concentrated in public health.  Last year, Jie interned with Meaningful Days Service.

Indiana INTERNnet: Describe your internship experience at Meaningful Days Service. What were your favorite aspects?

Jie Chen: My internship was at Meaningful Days Service. I was shadowing the Nurse Keren Lessel. She was my supervisor. When I started it, I was a wellness coordinator intern. I created a health program for clients to increase their daily physical activities. I also educated clients about healthy eating and some tips of portion control. I liked to engage with clients because it helped me to gain better …

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Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on February 7, 2018 at the 12th 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.

Salvador Espinoza is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing from IPFW and is expecting to graduate in May 2019. 

Indiana INTERNnet: As a Dekko intern for many years, how has your role grown since you first started?
Salvador Espinoza: Over the last several years, my role with Dekko has grown so much. It’s gotten to the point that I don’t even feel like an intern or a co-op student anymore. I really feel like a part of the company. It makes me happy to see projects that I’ve worked on actually be put into action and impact the company in some way.

I quickly went from data entry projects to creating social media strategies, doing market research projects for our products, creating video content, being a spokesperson for the company in many …

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