Internships prepare students Students and Faculty encourage internships before graduation to help ease into professions By STEVE STANDRIDGE of reasons for students to do internships. Photography Editor "Internships replicate facilities that we don't have here. They are a real opportu- A college degree is a measure of accomplishment. It shows employers that not pity for educational growth and maturity. They also bridge the gap between aca demics and the real world and can be a gateway to a career," Churchill said. only has the potential employee amassed knowledge of the field, but he or she has Churchill said that PSH students are lucky. "For years our campus has been also had the determination to spend four or more years doing it. Many college stu looked at as a benchmark for internship experiences. We have a strong program dents are content to rest on the degree and G.P.A. that they have worked so hard and alumni in powerful places to help students," he said. for. However, in today's highly competitive job market, those things alone may not While students have a great variety of opportunities and locations at their finger be enough. tips, many students ignore them. Becker said that there is not the level of partici- Employers are looking for practical experience to set an employee apart. While . pawn that the department would expect. The humanities office has an extensive list of opportunities available to students wishing to intern. Local media outlets have been popular with students in the past. Students have worked at the Hershey Chronicle, The Patriot-News, WITF, WGAL, WHP, WLYH, decide the fate of a student grades and degrees are important, hands-on experience in the field of study is becoming essential. The most valuable tool to help college students gain this expe rience is the internship. "We really encourage students to do internships," Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Michael Becker said. According to Becker, students in the psychology programs can do internships at traditional psychiatric facilities as well as hospitals and prisons. Becker urges stu dents, to participate in internship opportunities to get ready for the workforce. Eton Churchill, assistant professor of Humanities and Communications and coor dinator of the Communications program, agreed. He said that there are a number flibb Octobra 21, 2003 ABOVE: Students are lined up for fall treats and to vote for the best carved pumpkin. RIGHT: It was a beautiful to day to eat lunch and socialize outside Photo by Steve Standridge Photos by Marko Primorac and WTPA. Other stu dents have interned with American Education Services, Commerce Bank, Well Span Health, Penn State University, and many other state, insurance, and design offices. PSH students have also interned at some major media outlets such as NBC, MTV, and ESPN. Cindy Leach and Sue Etter in the humanities office often see the progress that students are making. They said that although communications internships are not commonly paid, they have always been popular and most students have positive experiences. Brooke Jumbelick, a communications student, is currently an intern at WGAL, News 8, in Lancaster. She said that she is surprised how much she has learned in such a short time. Jumbelick considers herself lucky for having a chance to do production, report ing, writing, editing and contributing. "They let me do everything," Jumbelick said. "Everyone is very helpful." Jumbelick said that internship experience makes a student more attractive to an employer by applying classroom knowledge with practical experience. It can also help give a student some direction. "I had no idea what I was going to do. This internship had given me an idea of my likes and dislikes," Jumbelick said. Students and professors agree. Classroom education is important, but it is best used when complimented with hands-on experience through internships. "It's a different world outside the classroom," Jumbelick said.
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