Kemper Summer Internships
By Layne Rabe
Tyson Compton didn't know what to expect, or who to expect, when he walked into the Republican Leadership "Conversation and Coffee" in a conference room at the Capitol building.
He walked in and sat down at a table near the front of the room.
"Next thing I know Alan Greenspan sat down next to me," Compton said.
Greenspan was there to lead a discussion.
Compton introduced himself.
Before long they were speaking freely with one another as well as other congressmen in attendance while eating donuts and drinking coffee.
"It was quite a whirlwind," Compton said.
Compton worked for Representative Jeff Fortenberry in Washington D.C. as a congressional clerk. His responsibilities ranged from minor clerical work to research on bills and legislation and high profile speaking engagements. Compton also had the opportunity to work on a special election for a U.S. Congress seat, based in Augusta, Georgia.
His experiences were courtesy of a $31,000 grant from the James S. Kemper Foundation that Doane used to develop new student internship opportunities in metropolitan areas.
Students from any academic field could compete for the positions. Seven Doane students were chosen.
Faculty members stayed in contact with them during and after the internship and visited each student at their internship sight.
Alumni sponsored each student in their various cities and were happy with the students' performances, according to Dr. Jill Bale, professor of finance and coordinator of the grant. Alumni called the Doane students "problem solvers" and workers who asked questions to do the job well.
"The experience was invaluable," Bale said. "Just to have these jobs on the résumé will make a big difference as they look for future jobs."
In addition to housing, travel expenses and a weekly monetary allotment, the students received valuable college credit for their internships.
Not to mention some amazing experiences.
Compton lived on Capitol Hill with 12 others from across the country.
Amy Gillespie and Megan Fraley opened their doors to the beauty of Central America every day during their summer in Panama City, Panama, working in the office of the Panama Canal Authority.
"We went scuba diving in Portobello, snorkeling in Bocas del Toro and horseback riding in the mountains of Boquete," Fraley said.
"The internship opened my mind to be more understanding of different cultures, people, and processes" Gillespie said. "My attitude toward the unknown must be positive for the experience to be enjoyable."
Fraley was in charge of consolidating more than a dozen reports on a hydraulic design set of locks for the canal into one final report. Gillespie assisted in preparation and issuance of contact amendments and verified account balances with major suppliers.
JoAnna Reiter and Cassy Blakely had the opportunity to work for Special Olympics International in Washington D.C. Blakely acted as camp manager for three week-long sports camps where she wrote health and emergency policy, helped with behavioral situations, handled first aid needs, planned training and opening ceremonies and helped with daily tasks.
Both worked for Camp Shriver, a special project of Special Olympics that brings individuals with intellectual disabilities together with peer volunteers who help them develop key sports skills. Reiter acted as a media relations specialist communicating with 19 Camp Shrivers around the world. She sought out and wrote story ideas and press releases for the Camp Shriver Web site and quarterly magazine, while also performing administrative camp duties each day.
"On the job, all the answers couldn't be found in a textbook," Reiter said about her time in D.C. "It was trial and error and knowing who and when to ask for help."
Blakely said the internship taught her valuable lessons outside of the office as well.
"Living in the city and having to build a social support base without knowing anyone taught me that I can survive no matter where I end up," Blakely said.
Caitlynn McGreer spent the summer working for Phoenix Closures Inc., in Davenport, Iowa and Naperville, Ill., which produces plastic caps for companies such as Dean's and Nestle. McGreer's work experiences ranged from factory work to projects and spreadsheets in the accounting department.
"I learned a lot about accounting and what type of jobs are in the accounting field after college," she said.
Rick Bazata was an applications engineer at Glentek Inc., in El Segundo, Calif., a company that provides solutions for motion control systems. He assisted engineers with day-to-day operations, acted as project manager on specific projects and helped customers learn how the company's servo systems could be utilized.
"This internship provided an opportunity to expand my horizons and move beyond the state of Nebraska. It allowed me to move outside of my comfort zone and really learn how real life business situations work...I also learned that it is beneficial to work hard because if you can impress the right people with your work ethic, many doors will be opened for you."
He credits Doane alums Dick and Helen Sysel Vasak for helping him feel comfortable in a new setting and enjoy his time in California.
"This experience will be used throughout the rest of my life as a defining moment in the beginning of my professional career."
He plans to return to work for the company in the summer of 2008.
Through the Kemper Grant Doane students not only gained valuable work experience, but life experience and had the opportunity to spread their wings outside the Doane campus.
The program is expected to continue using other sources of funding.
Student quotes:
Tyson- Congressional Clerk, worked directly with all facets of the Congressional Office from clerical work to research on bills/legislation. "I developed some great friendships and learned a lot about people and their life experience made me grow as a person."
Amy- Panama Canal Authority, worked as office assistant updating documentation of records and consolidating reports. "It was scary, exciting, lonely, breathtaking and unforgettable. Not speaking Spanish made things very difficult, but that's what pushed me to learn the most.
Megan- Panama Canal Authority, consolidated reports on the hydraulic design of a new set of locks for the canal.
"I thought that this was a great opportunity to gain work experience while traveling in a different country."
Cassy- Special Olympics International, Camp Shriver-Potomac organizer in Washington DC. "The kids at the camp were fantastic. Each kid touched my heart. There was one little girl who was fantastically naughty, but so cute that she could get away with it."
JoAnna- Special Olympics International, Camp Shriver Media Relations Specialist "I wanted to explore what a career in public relations would be like, and knew that Special Olympics had a mission that I would feel comfortable promoting. Since Special Olympics is non-profit, the Kemper grant was integral in my decision to accept the position."
Caitlynn- Phoenix Closures Inc. Worked her way up from factory worker in Davenport to accounting in Naperville. "I went to Chicago during the weekend while I was in Naperville and I loved the lack of dependence on cars. Overall, it did convince me that I would enjoy living in a metropolitan area after college."
Rick- Glentek Inc. Applications Engineer. Assisted engineers with day-to-day operations and worked as project manager for different projects. "This was a life- changing experience that helped me realize what type of engineering I want to continue my education in."