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The Behrend Beacon
Working for the mouse
Angela Fetzner and Brian Veshecco not only share smiliar hats but similiar experiences working for
Disney World.
by Megan Loncaric
staff writer
How would you feel about going to
Disney World? How about going to
Disney World for four months? Better
yet, how about going to Disney World
for four months and getting paid for it?
This was the amazing fate of two
Behrend students, Angela Fetzner and
Brian Veshecco, who both did
internships at the Epcot Center in Disney
World in Florida during the fall of 2002.
They saw the advertisements about the
intern opportunity last year, and both
decided it would be a great and
interesting internship opportunity.
Besides, who wouldn't want to get paid
to go to The Magic Kingdom?
Fetzner, FNC 07, said that the
internship was a really good experience.
"I got a lot of experience working with
a lot of different people from different
countries," she said. "At Epcot, there are
different attractions for different
countries, and each attraction had
international students from that country
working there as interns as well."
Veshecoo, MRKTG 07, wanted to be
an intern at Disney World because it
seemed like it would be a nice break from
school
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There are several groups you choose
to be in before you actually go down to
Florida. The group Fetzner and
Veshecco chose was called Park
Operations.
"While I was there, I took a Human
Resource class, and a communications
class called Experiential Learning, which
taught different theories and ways of
learning," Veshecco said.
Fetzner also took the Experiential
Learning class.
"You do not have to take a class there
to be an intern, but it was free," she said.
"There were no problems getting the
credits transferred from there to Penn
State," she added, "Penn State set it up
so the credits would transfer from Disney
World with no problems at all."
There is a bit of paperwork they had
to fill out before they can intern at Disney
World.
"Most of it is just collecting signatures
from people." Fetzner said. "Plus, you
have to transfer your transcript and find
a teacher to sponsor your internship
there."
"It's definitely worth it," said Fetzner.
Classes, though, are just an option.
You aren't required to take classes if you
want to intern at Disney World. You are
there to work.
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Friday, October 24, 2003
Veshecco's official title was
"Attraction Host." He helped operate
Splash Mountain.
He also helped out with the many
parades that Disney World puts on.
"I was sort of like crowd control," he
said.
Fetzner's position title was "Hopper."
She worked at the laser/fire works show
called Illuminations, helping audience
members find their seats. She was also
part of Park Clear, which went through
the numerous restaurants throughout
Epcot and helped clean up and made sure
everyone left.
Interns there have the option of staying
in the dorms Disney provides or staying
out of the park. If you decide to stay in
the dorms provided, Disney takes out
money out from your paycheck. Interns
get paid $6 an hour.
Ifyou would like to read more, visit
www.wdwcollegeprogram.com to fill out
an application, and take it to the
presentations on Mon. Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.
at Gannon or Wed. Oct. 29 at 5 p.m. at
Mercyhurst in the Old Main building.
Any questions can be directed to Brian
Veshecco at bjvll9@psu.edu or Angela
Fetzner at amf2.oB@psu.edu.
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Dialing up the
future of Behrend
We all know how annoying those telephone calls can be that come to us during
dinnertime when we're finally sitting down to eat. Most often it is a credit card
company seeing if you'd like to open an account with them, or it's a national radio
survey both sound like fun and not useful.
Well there's one call that goes out to prospective Penn State Behrend students
and it could be the most important call they receive when deciding on their college
future.
While you may not have heard of The Stars, many prospective Behrend students
have. They are the Penn State Behrend telecounselers and their job is to help out
curious high school seniors decide if Behrend is the place for them.
"We call up students who have stated they were interested in coming to Behrend
and talk to them about the campus. We often answer their questions about the
application process during the first phone call," said Journalism and International
Politics major Deepti Soni, 01.
While this is Soni's first semester working with The Stars, she is one of about 15
other Stars. On any given night you can find seven or eight students down in Glenhill
Farm House in the admissions office dialing up possible students.
Most of the telecounselors are students who were called while they were in high
school trying to decide what to do for college.
"It's so great and a fun time helping perspective freshman decide what they want
to do," Soni said.
The program first started about 7 years ago and in the first few months it was up
and running, Behrend saw the acceptance rate go up 4 percent. Due to the
telecounselors and their phone calls, that number has been rising every year.
The Stars call up the prospective freshmen three times. The first call is to help
out the seniors figure out their application and answer their questions about SAT
scores and often money questions
"I have been asked so many questions! Most often we get questioned about money,
SATs, environment, clubs on campus and even parties," said Soni.
The second call is placed to congratulate the student ongetting accepted to Penn
State Behrend and to talk to them about how they feel about it. This is the time
when the telecounselors start to really sell Behrend and help the student decide
whether or not they want to accept their entrance to Behrend.
Lastly, the third call is often to welcome the students to Behrend after they have
accepted their invitation to Behrend. Also, during this phone call the Star talking
with the students helps them to figure out their FAFSA forms and other things they
need to send in such as housing form.
All phone calls and conversations between the students are kept confidential.
"I think the fact that we have a confidentiality rule makes the students feel at
ease and are more open to ask us any kind of questions, knowing that we won't tell
anyone what they asked us," said Soni.
Surveys conducted during the spring of last year showed that the students found
the telephone calls from current Behrend students to be a very positive experience
and really helped them in their decision making.
"It's such a great thing knowing you're helping out these kids. I love being able
to put out such a positive image of Behrend. I love it here and I wantto share that
with others," Soni said.
Curious as to how you can be a Star? Well you are in luck-it happens to be one of
the few jobs on campus that is work-study and wage. All it takes is filling out an
application and going through an interview process. Maybe you, too, can help
project a positive view of Behrend and help expand this ever-growing campus.
For more information you can call 898-7181. Ask to speak with either John Smith
or Mary Ellen Madigan
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Erika Jarvis, Features Editor
by Erika Jarvis
features page editor
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