April 15, 2009 – As the economy slows and employers reduce their hiring outlook for full-time post graduation positions, internship programs become even more attractive to employers. Many campus recruiters have shifted their hiring emphasis toward internships this spring. Many University of Utah students are taking advantage of the opportunities.

To celebrate the internship achievements of U students over the past year, the U’s Career Services will hold an awards reception for their annual U Work U Win contest. The reception will recognize winners in four categories: winning projects, winning places, winning perks and winning people. Each winner will receive a gift worth $100 and will be featured on the Career Services web site.

The reception will take place Thursday, April 23 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Career Services Center in room 350 of the Student Services Building, 201 S. 1300 East on the U of U campus. The event is free and open to the public. Media are welcome.

“Employers who offer internship programs generally convert about 60 percent of students to full-time professional hires after graduation,” says Stan Inman, director of Career Services at the U. “Students should seek quality internships with employers that match their career interests early in the undergraduate experience. By the time students reach the junior year they should be targeting companies of interest for internships.”

Inman adds that an internship must include hands-on work experience that compliments classroom learning. “Internships involve a committed supervisor who will guide, evaluate and mentor the intern. Career Services Internship Program (CSIP) at the U is one of very few programs around the country where a student can receive upper division elective credit based on a combination of career development assignments and the learning that occurs in a work environment,” he says.

Winning interns are listed by category below:

WINNING PROJECTS
Hilary Jean Van Moorleghem

Major: modern dance

Employer: Salt Lake Art Center

Van Moorleghem worked as a curatorial intern with the Salt Lake Art Center. Here she worked on the annual fundraising gala, Not Just Another Pretty Face. Quoted as “the best party in town,” the art elite enjoy a creative atmosphere, cocktails, conversation and catered food, culminating with a grand unveiling of locally commissioned art work that will stay on display in the main exhibition hall. Through the planning of this project she became acquainted with prominent local artists, valuable art patrons and the art elite of Salt Lake City.

Steve Drollinger

Major: electrical engineering

Employer: Williams International

Drollinger interned with Williams International, a world renowned turbine engine designer. While at Williams International, he worked on projects to find solutions to real world problems, including implementing a wireless solution for a forklift attachment. Drollinger designed a relay board which is battery operated, uses little power and can fit in a 4x6x2 box. This project was so successful he is currently assembling another device for their other forklift.

WINNING PLACES
Ryan Oldroyd

Major: law

Employer: State Prosecutor’s Office – Bosnia/Herzegovina

Oldroyd interned with the State Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Special Section for War Crimes in Sarajevo. While at his internship he worked on a team that focused on Eastern Bosnia, where some of the most horrific war crimes were committed. Although the experience was emotionally difficult at times, he gained phenomenal experience. Oldroyd said the experience of working in a city and nation that was rebuilding physical infrastructure, political, economic and legal institutions, while still providing exposure to cutting edge international criminal legal work made this a winning place to be.

Alejandro Melendez

Major: business

Employer: Walt Disney Company

Melendez’s “magical” internship was for the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida. He worked as an international media public relations intern, allowing him to work with many media outlets. Melendez worked on publicity for a Japanese TV show called Arashi Chan’s Secrets, met Michael Phelps and was on the publicity team that helped launch a Buzz Lightyear figure into space with NASA.

Josh Barrus

Major: economics

Employer: Utah Sports Properties

Barrus did his internship with Utah Sports Properties in Salt Lake City. Utah Sports Properties handles all of the sponsorships for University of Utah athletics. By working for them, he is allowed to be in a “winning” place: courtside at basketball games and on the sidelines for football games, including the sideline just seconds before the Utah fans rushed the field after Utah defeated BYU.

WINNING PERKS

Ben Torgersen
Major: finance

Employer: USANA Health Sciences

Torgersen’s internship was with USANA Health Sciences as a junior financial analyst. USANA has many incentives to encourage the good health of their employees, including a state-of-the-art gym, basketball court, two personal trainers, massage therapists, free vitamins and an incentive program to encourage employees to use these perks. USANA also provides an impressive tuition reimbursement program which includes $20,000 lifetime total reimbursement to be used for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Codi Holt
Major: pre-nursing, human development and family studies

Employer: U of U Hospital Labor and Delivery

As an intern at the University of Utah Hospital Labor and Delivery department, Holt says the best perk about her job is seeing all the babies. She works helping mothers with the many tasks they need to do to get admitted to have their baby. Her desk is in the middle of the unit, so she hears the “It’s a girl” or “It’s a boy” announcements from the delivery rooms. She gets to see the fathers as they take their new baby to the nursery and says it is priceless to see the expressions on their faces as they show their new baby to the staff.

WINNING PEOPLE

Caitlin McDonald
Major: Asian studies, history

Employer: University of Utah – President Young’s Office

McDonald works as a presidential intern for President Michael K. Young at the University of Utah. The best part about her internship was that she worked at the president’s private box at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where she met Governor Huntsman, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Senator Hatch and Senator Bennett. Through other events she has been able to speak with major University donors, political leaders and prominent researchers and academics.

Jessica Batty
Major: architecture studies

Employer: ASSIST

Batty did her architectural internship at ASSIST, Salt Lake City’s community design center. At her internship, she helped people with different levels of ability modify their homes so that they can live the best quality of life possible. They look at issues such as urban planning, transportation and accessibility design issues. Although she is providing life changing improvements to these people lives, Batty feels she is the one being changed each time she meets such incredible individuals.

The U’s Career Services Library, which contains information on a wide variety of topics, including career/major research, job search strategies and employment trends, is open to students, faculty and staff as well as the general public. U graduates may use these resources indefinitely, although after one year they are charged a nominal fee for any alumni career counseling. For more information on career trends and opportunities for college graduates, visit the University of Utah’s Career Library, 350 Student Services Building, open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., call 801-581-6186 or visit http://careers.utah.edu/.