From California to Maine, Aquinas College students have been gaining valuable real-world work experience despite the challenges of the pandemic.
The College is celebrating the accomplishments of a record number of student internships leading up to National Intern Day on July 29. The College and the AQ Advantage Center, the hub of career services, internships, study away and student research at the College, will post information and student profiles all week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Despite the pandemic, 44 students participated in internships during the 2020-21 academic year. Work experiences occurred in-person and remotely with employers in a dozen states.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time just putting the textbook terms into action and going out and making connections and bridging those gaps between different communities and different backgrounds,” said student Rachael Walski, who participated in an internship with Urban Roots in Grand Rapids.
All for-credit internships coordinated through AQ Advantage Center provide a unique feature: each student receives an in-person or virtual learning assessment with the internship director and their internship supervisor.
“The mentorship and growth opportunities are irreplaceable,” said student Nicholas Klak, who participated in an internship with Variant Partners in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “I have grown so much in my personal and professional life from the lessons that I have learned.”
More information about Aquinas College’s internship program is available from the Advantage Center at https://www.aquinas.edu/aq-advantage-center. National Intern Day, which was started by the job site WayUp in 2017, will be held on July 29 and is an opportunity for organizations to celebrate their future leaders.
(Pictured is Demetrius Miller, who has been doing incredible work as an intern with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital's wheelchair and adaptive sports department.)