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Ending on a Sweet Note
This is a guest blog by Armenda Boyer, a sophomore at Purdue University. She is currently working toward a dual major in Agricultural Communication and Agricultural Economics. This past summer, she was an education intern for the Indiana State Fair Commission.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I accepted an offer to work as an education intern at the Indiana State Fair. Of course, I expected to have the opportunity to work with children and to share my love of all-things agriculture. And I was able to do just that! What I didnât expect to do involved 6,500 pounds of caramel corn and a national television show…
The Worldâs Largest Popcorn Ball tipped the scales at 6,510 pounds. Check out my last post to see how this massive sphere of popcorn and sugar came together to break a world record! The popcorn ball …
A Record-Breaking Internship: Making the Worldâs Largest Popcorn Ball
This is a guest blog by Armenda Boyer, a sophomore at Purdue University. She is currently working toward a dual major in Agricultural Communication and Agricultural Economics. This past summer, she was an education intern for the Indiana State Fair Commission.
I spent last summer working as an education intern at the Indiana State Fair. Along with the everyday, agricultural education outreach, my internship provided me numerous unique opportunities. And I mean truly unique!
Each year the State Fair highlights an agricultural commodity produced in Indiana. If you visited the fairgrounds August 2-18 you probably recognized the 2013 theme: Year of Popcorn. This field crop was apparent at each turn of the fairgroundsâfrom the child-friendly popcorn maze to the red and white striped, popcorn container-inspired gift shop on Main Street. The focal point of the popcorn theme was certainly the Worldâs Largest Popcorn Ballâa 3-ton caramel corn …
That’s Not A Barn – It’s Not Red!
This is a guest blog by Armenda Boyer, a sophomore at Purdue University. She is currently working toward a dual major in Agricultural Communication and Agricultural Economics. This past summer, she was an education intern for the Indiana State Fair Commission. Â
âWhere are we going?â asked a wide-eyed little boy as I led his summer camp group to the Mac Reynoldâs Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
As an education intern for the Indiana State Fair Commission, my team and I often hosted student field trips. My favorite days working at the fair were the days when children flooded the Fairgrounds to learn about agriculture. This summer, I realized that helping children learn is one of the most fulfilling things I can do. When that learning is regarding agriculture, an industry I am passionate about, I am even more excited to share information.
I answered the eager …
Millenials: A Lost Generation? No way!
This is an infographic submitted by Heidi Thompson discussing the positive characteristics Millenials have to offer.
Who Says You Canât Go Home?
Jenn Meadows is a senior communications major studying at the University of Indianapolis. She is the UIndy PRSSA president and promotions director for WICR 88.7. Currently sheâs interning in her hometown for Main Street Greensburg and the Decatur County Chamber of Commerce.
Iâm a big fan of the NBC Show Parks and Recreation. Leslie Knope, the main character played by Amy Poehler, was born and raised in the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind. Leslie is very passionate about the town she loves which carries over into her work as Director of the Parks Department â sheâs writing a book, campaigning for new parks and planning a festival.
Like Leslie, I was born and raised in Indiana. However, I come from Greensburg, a small town in Southeastern Indiana. When I watch Parks and Recreation, I canât help but think about my hometown.
Unlike Leslie, I couldnât wait …
Summer fun: Student interns at childrenâs museum
This is a story that appeared in the ISU online newsroom.
By: Emily Sturgess, ISU Communications and Marketing Staff
Every day children fill the three stories of the Terre Haute Children’s Museum with chatter and laughter as they learn about farm life, play in the two-story tree house and laugh as they stand in the midst of the large bubble ring.
For senior public relations major Casey May, participating in this fun came her summer job.
“I just love that I can be myself here,” said May, a Terre Haute, Ind., native, who interned at the museum during the summer.
From being fingerprinted as a suspect during the CSI summer camp to dressing up as Princess Leia complete with hair buns and a toy gun, May enjoyed every opportunity to embrace the “little girl within” her.
“At any other internship I would have not be able to joke around, act …
How to Wrap Up Your Internship (And Eat Your Cake Too)
The last week of my internship with Indiana INTERNnet was bittersweet. On one hand, I am sad to leave this great environment of supportive people. On the other hand, I am excited for the next step in my career. Before I go, I wanted to leave you with a few tips on successfully wrapping up an internship.
1)Â Â Â Â Â Connect with Mentor
From the moment I walked through the door, Janet has been there for me. She answered questions, assigned projects and gave feedback. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, the No. 1 perk of an internship is having a mentor throughout the experience.
As I wrapped up my internship, Janet and I connected to assess my progress and make sure my goals were met. In the last section of the Employersâ Guide , the intern is recommended to provide feedback to the organization. I appreciated the chance to not …
Internship Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have some unresolved questions about internships? Whether youâre a college student wondering if internships are the best next step for you – or youâre an employer curious about setting up an internship program at your organization, here is a compiled list of internship frequently asked questions with answers by our internship experts:
What is the point of interning?
Employers: A New Age of Internship Possibilities Students: Internship Experience May Increase Your Salary Discovering your career path Why Intern? Mind the Employment Gap No. 1 Perk of an Internship
Are internships truly a stepping stone into a full-time job?
From Intern to Full-Time Employee Considering an intern as a full-time employee
I hear a lot of myths about internships. What are some truths?
Five Simple Truths About Internships
I keep hearing about virtual internships. What are they all about?
The Potential of Virtual Internships Virtual …
Meet Our New Program Manager
The chicly-dressed new program manager at Indiana INTERNnet might not look like it, but Ann Mears is a born and raised farm girl. Hailing from Delphi, Indiana, Ann grew up on a small cattle farm just east of town. When she was old enough to gather eggs from the chickens, she quickly found a way to make a return on her investment in this least-liked chore by selling the eggs to her grandparents and neighbors.
When it came to deciding on a major at Purdue University, Ann started out in Agricultural Economics, but quickly realized that her calling was in Hospitality and Tourism Management. To solidify her choice of studies, she dived into multiple internships throughout her college career.
Annâs internship experience began with Indiana Packers Corporation, where she excelled at her human resources internship and eventually became the intern to the executive assistant. As the events intern with the …
The Alumni Networking Solution
This is a guest blog on tips to connecting during a job search by John Muscarello, Founder and CEO of Start Networking Today.
Looking for an excuse to spend even more time on social media?
LinkedIn has proven to be a great professional networking tool. According Jobvite, âEmployees hired through referral are hired 55% faster than those who come from a career site.â
I have personally used The Alumni Networking Solution to find leads and get interviews that lead to job offers.
What exactly is The Alumni Networking Solution?
The Alumni Networking Solution is a 5-step networking tool designed to introduce yourself to college alumni and develop relationships that lead to referrals. This means actually getting to know the person- and asking for his or her advice, instead of a job. I used these five simple steps â in about 10 minutes per connection â to find …
Honing writing skills through a virtual internship
This is a guest post by Stephanie Dolan, an online student at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. She is studying journalism and recently completed a virtual internship with {C} Magazine.
As a journalism and media studies major, an internship is integral to finding oneâs niche as a writer. Iâm thankful that writing allows me more freedom than being locked into one field of expertise; however, occasionally focusing on one area at a time can assist in narrowing down a writerâs strengths and preferences.
My first internship came during the winter semester. I was a newsletter writer focusing on news specific to one organizationâs interests. This summer in my second internship, I was a contributing writer for an online entertainment publication, {C} Magazine.
Both of my internships have been virtual experiences, and â as an online student â maintaining a virtual presence was essential for me so that I wouldnât have to …
Breakfast with Twitter, YouTube and NPR
Would you believe when I started my internship, I had never used Twitter before? Four months and thousands of tweets later, social media is one of my main responsibilities with Indiana INTERNnet. Learning by doing is a wonderful thing.
At the Millennial Impact conference in Indianapolis (#MCON13) on July 18th, I sat at breakfast with none other than Jenna Golden, a leader in Twitterâs Washington, D.C. office, along with Jessica Mason (YouTube) and Danielle Deabler (NPR). I would have never imagined I would dive into social media so deep, so fast.
Throughout the entire conference, speaker after speaker emphasized the importance of allowing Millennials input and control on projects specific to social involvement and movement. This definitely resonates with my experience at Indiana INTERNnet.
Donât worry. I took away some valuable tips from this conference other than choosing the right table at breakfast:
Find your calling | What …
No. 1 Perk of an Internship
In the summer of 2012, I had just graduated with my MBA and was looking for my first big-girl job. I sent in my résumé to every job posting that I found online that fit my criteria. After a few months, I realized my efforts were futile. I had little marketing experience to penetrate the job market. I needed a place that would give me a fresh start and some hands-on training.
I was aware that internships are the new interview for a full-time job. I knew this applied to perhaps a larger company. In a small non-profit, I wasnât as sure about the degree of this truth. Nonetheless, I knew the experience would be valuable no matter the size of the organization.
“I thought that building up my portfolio…was as good as it gets. Turns out, it gets better.”
When I started at Indiana INTERNnet in April 2013, …
3 Lessons Learned from the Company’s Baseball Outing
Just when I thought my internship with Indiana INTERNnet could not get any more exciting after our staff luncheon at Dickâs Last Resort, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce treated the entire staff to an Indianapolis Indians Baseball game right around the corner at Victory Field. I hurried to wrap up my work for the day before the noon hour. The air in the office was electrified with excitement and the prospect of socializing. The air outside, however, was humid and warm.
After taking my seat alongside my chamber-mates, I thought back to the last time I was at Victory Field. It must have been back in 2010 while I was interning with the Human Resources Department at OneAmerica. The JW Marriott had not graced the panorama of Indy yet. And, I was ready for my first-ever baseball game. My boss at the time bought me a foam finger and …
15 Tips to Avoid the Intern 15 [Infographic]
You know how the people in the Disney-Pixar movie, Walle, look? That is how I feel after a couple of hours of sitting at my desk at work. Some days, it feels like the legend of the Freshmen 15 has come back to haunt me â not that I gained all 15 pounds in college, but you get what I mean.
As any health conscious intern, I began to collect some tips on ways to maintain wellness while at work. Then, I realized the Indiana Chamber of Commerce has among its programs a state-wide Wellness Council. Hence, I went directly to the experts to help me compile a list of time-tested tips. Within five minutes of chatting with Adrienne Luegers, the Program Coordinator, I came to realize there is more to wellness than just the physical aspect.
Not only did Adrienne shed a brighter light on wellness in the workplace, but also …