I chose to intern here because I felt that I would gain valuable experience in many different areas of business.  Not only am I able to immerse myself in the sports world here, something that has always been a passion of mine, but I am also learning how to run a business from behind the scenes.  

A few of my early projects right now include obtaining price quotes for shirts from several companies and determining which fits our needs best; signing sponsors, designing the layout, and getting quotes for coupon cards that we will pass out with admission this fall; and restructuring our database of contact information along with another summer intern from Wabash, Jason Eichler.  I have already led 3 meetings with other companies to discuss our options and goals for the shirt project.  Also during my first week at The SportZone, I wrote a contract agreement with a company wishing to rent 40,000 square feet of our facility for an event with around 500 people.

I have quickly learned the importance of every dollar when running your own relatively small business.  It causes you to think critically about how you might be able to save a dollar or two here and there and also how to utilize every inch of your facility in order to bring in the most revenue possible instead of wasting space.  I am looking forward to the last 7 weeks of my internship to see what new tools and experiences I will gather.  Once again, thank you to Career Services for all the help they have given me, you are truly a one-of-a-kind staff that cannot be found elsewhere.

I came to college this year, as a junior, without any idea of what I want to do after graduation. With this in mind I knew I had to act if I wanted to find out what I like and pursue that. I talked with Betsy Knott, Assistant Director of Career Services, and we decided that a good starting point would be to job shadow alumni in the healthcare industry. One of the things I learned, and surprised me, during my search was how willing Wabash alumni are to help out a fellow Wally. Almost immediately after Betsy sent out an initial contact to alumni asking them to participate, she received several positive responses, expressing a willingness to help. Once I set up an appointment with Mr. Kerr, he made me aware of Tim Rickard, with whom I later set up an appointment on the same day, because both work in the same area.

Meeting with Mr. Kerr was an exciting experience! Once I arrived to the 43rd floor of the Chase Tower, I immediately was presented with an awesome view of downtown Indianapolis as I was directed to Mr. Kerr’s office. He gave me some great insight on what it is like to be in the sales department of a business, showed me first hand of what he does on a day to day basis, and gave me advice to take away from the experience. One piece of advice he told me was that nobody will care more about my career than me, and that I can’t just wait for my ship to come in, rather I need to jump out and find it myself. He also introduced me to several other people working at Mercer. Mr. Kerr gave me a feel for what it is like working at a bigger company, and where I could be if I work hard to improve my career.

The meeting with Mr. Rickard was equally a learning rich experience. We met for lunch at “The Bearcat Pub”, which, just FYI the Rubens there are quite tasty! We talked about our Wabash experiences and Tim gave me a brief introduction on his company. We visited his office at CareGuide, where he showed me around and introduced me to many different people who work there. I also sat in with him as he made a few business calls, including one to my old friend and teammate John Kasey ‘08, who now works in Seattle. Shadowing Tim was great! It helped me get the feel for working in a smaller company as well as getting a feel for what kind of job I could acquire directly out of college. Also, the experience helped me meet and network with new people.

It was a fun and enlightening experience. Not only did I get to see what an alumnus does after being out for 15 years, but I also learned what Wabash graduates can do immediately following graduation. I was also able to learn about the differences between a large company like Mercer and a smaller more entrepreneurial business like CareGuide. Being able to see this dichotomy, as well as going to some neat places and meeting new people all at one time, made this day one to remember, and one to learn from.

Craig Vetor '10

ORNL is the US Department of Energy’s largest lab. The main areas of research work that go on here include neutron science, nuclear fusion, “green” chemistry, genetics, alternative energy and national security. About 3000 scientists work here every year as guest scientists or permanent employees.

I first learned about Oak Ridge when I read “Surely, You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” by Richard Feynman. Feynman describes his frequent visits to Oak Ridge while he was working on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. The city of Oak Ridge has a rich history associated with it. The lab played an important role in ending World War II. It is one of the three labs built to make nuclear weapons for the Manhattan Project (the other two are in Los Alamos, New Mexico and Hanford, Washington). That’s where Oak Ridge got its nicknames The Secret City and The Atomic City. I heard that Oak Ridge was not included on the official map until the 1960s.

During my stay here, I am working on Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments. NMR is the same technology that is used in MRI, an imaging technology used in medicine. As part of my research, I am making micro-coils and LC circuits to do NMR spectroscopy in solid-state molecules. My second project is in the field of “green” chemistry. One of the groups at ORNL is working on developing more efficient batteries. I am assigned to measure the diffusion properties of the ionic-liquids used in such batteries.

Other than the research work, as a part of the science semester, I am required to attend weekly seminars and tours which overview different research-work going on at ORNL. The seminars are very helpful in getting the latest updates in science. Last month, we visited a supercomputing center, home to the second fastest supercomputer in the world. It was amazing. And last week, I got an opportunity to visit the remote system department and learn about robotics. Their work in making robots to work on the high radiation zones sounds groundbreaking.

Other than that, I have found East Tennessee very different from the Midwest. We are having nice fall weather, warmer than that in Indiana. The leaves in the Smokey Mountains look gorgeous. East Tennessee is full of outdoor activities ranging from rafting to rock climbing. It feels great to go outside and enjoy the fall weather.

This has been a great opportunity for me to come to a national lab to get research experience. I would like to thank the physics department and the off-campus studies office at Wabash for providing me this opportunity.

I will be writing more about my off-campus study experience. Until next time, so long!

The Community Fair will again take place this year.  Hopefully, we should have about 70 organizations participate  in the festivities on September 2 from 11:00- 1:30.  Pat and I learned a lot from the interaction with local industries.  First and foremost, people want what’s best for them, always.  So Pat and I learned quickly when dealing with potential participants and sponsors to raise a need.  This was not too difficult, the whole “new client” spiel did the trick. Although, interestingly enough, some businesses flat-out told us “no,” which still today I cannot understand.  Once we gathered sponsors, reserved the field house and caterer, and finally confirmed enough businesses, the rest was just management.  Overall, the success of the project will be measured in the attendance on September 2.

Our other project which is about to hit shelves soon is the Career Success Tips from Wabash Alumni.  We scoured the United States for the broadest, most diverse group of alumni to give our students the best possible career advice DVD.  After six hours of footage, hours of editing, downloads and uploads, condensing and cutting, and just spending some quality time with Brandon and Jeana we had ourselves a DVD.  I have to admit, there were times when I thought that this project was going to flop. However, once Pat and I got a clear vision of our goal, things started to work out.  We interviewed alumni in Chicago, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Denver, and Boulder.  The alumni took time out of their schedules to share their advice and stories.  I know it is stated many times, but Wabash alumni are some of the best and most generous guys you will ever meet.  There will always be technical issues, but the knowledge and experiences we gained over a great summer will stick with us.

Pat and I learned a little about ourselves this summer as well.  Pat went from a guy who was thinking about a joint law and business degree after Wabash to pursuing a career in the film world.  He has found a passion for making movies and writing scripts and is going to pursue this adventure after Wabash.  I reaffirmed my belief that I want to pursue law after Wabash; furthermore, this experience has taught me that there are so many different types of law out there that I can practically do whatever interests me.  I also decided to pick up an economics minor. I have always wanted to do so, but never have really pursued it.  This summer’s interaction with alumni and fundraising has made me realize the importance of economics.  We both appreciate the opportunities we were given this summer and we hope that our work benefits Wabash students this upcoming school year.

This newfound understanding is not some divine revelation — it took my internship with the 2008 Summer Conservatory for Youth at the Indiana Repertory Theatre to realize that my inner-child was in peril. When I started the program I quickly realized that, compared to the children, I lacked wholehearted spontaneity and enthusiasm. However, over a period of four weeks, the students and teachers awakened within each other and myself a child-like desire to learn new things, meet different people, and take bold risks.

To those who are unfamiliar with the Summer Conservatory, let me enlighten you — this was the 11th year of the program with 67 students ages 8 to 18 participating with over 20 high caliber professionals directing and instructing classes. Acting track students received training in acting, voice, movement, Shakespeare, creative dramatics, and dance for theatre. Production track students received training in stage management, directing, lighting, scenic design, costumes, properties and playwriting. The four-week program culminated in a public performance that drew an enthusiastic full house of over 193 people.

While the final presentation was meaningful, at the IRT we believe that the ongoing education of youth is of the utmost importance. First and foremost, Summer Conservatory makes each student self-aware and self-assured members of a greater community that believes in the importance of theatre in modern society. In addition, over four weeks, while each student makes a different degree of progress on the stage; everyone is more prepared for the real world (for the post-it, the printer, and the paycheck). They learn to react truthfully, think critically, and unapologetically strive to achieve their goals. 

I honestly hope my students bring the genuine to the real world that severely lacks it; I know my inner child and I will.

I am involved in a research at an atomic physics lab, which is searching for an electric dipole moment (eEDM) in electrons using polar molecules such as tungsten carbide. The ongoing research has a big importance in the physics world. There have been a lot of theoretical predictions of eEDM and finding eEDM experimentally gives us a new idea about the symmetry of the universe. With that ultimate goal in mind, we are now studying the properties of a supersonic gas jet of tungsten atoms seeded with meta-stable noble gases and also a beam of tungsten-carbide molecules.

Ann Arbor has been providing me great hospitality. It is a college-town with a lot of things to do. Even though this is a summer time with maybe 10% of the total students present, there are a lot of interesting things going on. I visited Ann Arbor Street Art Fair last week. The festival is an annual event with about a half million people coming here to see top quality artwork by the finest artists.

In addition to the research work, I also got an opportunity to attend the Michigan Quantum Summer School, a two-week long conference on quantum information science and precision measurement experiments. I found myself lucky to be able to attend talks given by famous atomic physicists. When I worked at Prof. Martin Madsen’s lab at Wabash last summer, I read many papers on quantum computing, and this year I was able to go to the lectures given by the same authors. During the conference, I met Eric Cornell (2001 Physics Nobel Prize Laureate) from University of Colorado, Boulder who came to visit our lab. I also presented a poster on the work I am doing during the conference. One more historic thing I learned about the conference was that, Michigan provided a good location for the development of quantum mechanics in 1930s and 1940s by running quantum summer schools and, with the same spirit, they revived the concept of Michigan Quantum Summer School from this year after about 50 years.

Rabin Paudel '10

Pictures:
1)  My research group   
2)  UM REU students in front of FermiLab   

This internship has also shown me much of Indiana, as well as Chicago, and even Milwaukee, WI.  Our 4^th of July weekend in Milwaukee was quite the memorable experience.  My boss sent me and the other intern Mark Shultz up to Milwaukee for a consumer interview, but he wanted to make sure we also had a good time.  It just so happened that during 4^th of July weekend, Summerfest was going on.  For those of us that are not familiar with Summerfest, it is the largest outdoor music festival in the world.  So our boss got us a hotel room on the top floor of the Hyatt Regency in downtown Milwaukee and sent us on our way to Summerfest.  All he said was, “I want you guys to have a good time,” and we sure did. 

Another aspect of the internship that I enjoy is my boss’ enthusiasm to introduce us to other successful alumni and pick their brains about their careers.  One of the notable meetings was with Greg Jania at W.P. Global Partners in the financial district of Chicago.  It was a great feeling to walk through the financial district of Chicago dressed in a suit.  It gave me a feeling of somewhat importance and substance.  But, the lunch meeting with Mr. Jania in his 39^th floor conference room overlooking the city was the highlight of the day.  We discussed different aspects of his career and the challenges he had to overcome to be where he is today.  We also discussed career paths that we could follow after Wabash that will give us the opportunity to have a great jobs.  This meeting as well as all of the other meetings with alums throughout the summer have been enlightening and have made me finally realize what I wish to pursue after Wabash.  As I mentioned in short earlier, this internship has given me some great work experience, but the “real life” experience has been priceless. 

Pictured above Steve Popovich and Mark Schultz on one of thier company visits.     

I grew up near Chicago, so it is really fantastic to be living in the city all by myself, thanks to the Kemper Grant, and taking in everything this amazing city has to offer. Not only do I get to live in Little Italy (I’m Italian, so it’s like being at home but without all of the guilt my mother so lovingly provides), but I also get to be a part of something I love: Entertainment.

As a Summer Production Assistant, I have spent my summer helping organize major events, including the Navy Pier premiere of “The Dark Knight” on July 16, many of the shows that take place on stages located on the pier, finalize band contracts for performances in the Beer Garden, and deal with the crazy antics of behind-the-scenes producing. The experience has been everything I have hoped for and more!

Not only have I been able to see what a producer does, but I have also had hands –on experience with performers and bands on the weekends when I stage manage the Dock Street and Beer Garden stages. I never would have thought this much effort and skill is needed to produce a show everyday or manage a band for a few hours. The knowledge gained during this internship has been nothing short of priceless.

It is quite interesting to see how things are run behind-the-scenes and how something can be going perfect one moment, then the tide abruptly changes and everything feels like it could fall apart. Being able to think on your toes and critically to keep everything together is something Wabash has definitely taught me and that has been extremely helpful during this internship. Being a stage manager on the weekends has illustrated how much preparation goes into a band’s performance or a variety performer’s set. It has allowed me to have a newfound respect for performers and all of the things they do to prepare for a show and all of the things that must be done to keep a show running smoothly.

One of the perks of being part of the Entertainment Team at Navy Pier has been my access to some of the promotional ties with “The Dark Knight.” Anyone with knowledge of the film is aware that Chicago stands in for Gotham City and director Christopher Nolan shot almost all of the exterior shots here in the city last year and a major scene at Gotham Pier was shot on the East End of the Pier involving two ferries. Seeing how Navy Pier has an IMAX screen inside the Family Pavilion and some of the film was shot on the Pier, Christopher Nolan wanted to have a premiere here, in honor of the city.

I was able to attend some of the events during the premiere and was given a special screening on the film’s day of release. I was able to get a few photos of the Tumbler (Batmobile) and the Batpod (motorcycle) because they were on showcase in the Crystal Gardens for the VIP event that night. I was unable to attend the VIP party, but was able to see the vehicles before the official party.

My experiences producing and the knowledge gained in dealing with contracts have been extremely beneficial to me in my future endeavors in the entertainment industry. Once again, Wabash has helped me find an unbelievable internship and has supplied with the resources and knowledge to help me achieve everything I have wanted to during this opportunity. If you’re ever up in Chicago during the remainder of the summer, stop by and enjoy the unique atmosphere Navy Pier has to offer.

One project I completed for the Youth Audience was compiling demographic research about what schools attended what productions last season. More importantly, however, was finding schools the IRT hasn’t been able to get to the theatre. Then I learned about IRT’s mission: to produce top-quality, professional theatre and related activities, providing experiences that engage, surprise, challenge and entertain people throughout their lifetimes, thereby helping to build a vital and vibrant community. Getting students to the theatre is absolutely one of their main priorities and I was more than happy to aid them in learning about what schools they could possibly reach out to whether it’s through underwriting ticket sales for student matinees or providing means for transportation to get students to the IRT.

When working for the Development Department I had the opportunity to learn about grant writing and grant proposal research, a subject I always thought was dull and loathsome, but as I dived into my research, I actually enjoyed the research I was doing and was able to find a number of foundations the IRT could send a request to whether it be for interests concerning culture, youth, or education. I was so fascinated because while the IRT is a non-profit organization, funding is so important because they need large sums of funding to produce the fully professional shows they put on stage.

When my first four weeks ended, I supervised a group of students interested in technical theatre during the IRT’s Summer Conservatory for Youth for the last four weeks. I had a group of ten students between the ages of fourteen and eighteen and we covered everything involved with the technical side of theatre including directing, stage management, playwriting, props, costumes, and set, sound, and light design. I was so fortunate to work with such a bright group of students. We covered so much in so little time that I was amazed to see them take it all in.

After learning about these different aspects of technical theatre, each student designed costume renderings and a set with a lighting plot for Shakespeare’s MacBeth, which the IRT is actually producing this fall. Each student also wrote a ten-minute play under the guidance of Jeff Casazza, a professional playwright, and Richard Roberts, the IRT’s dramaturge. Their plays then received a staged reading by professional actors such as Rob Johansen, Priscilla Lindsay, Milicent Wright, Robert Neal, Constance Macy, and Ryan Artzberger. The purpose of this reading was not to see how the actors displayed the characters, but for the playwrights to actually see and hear their work on stage and determine if they were satisfied with what they wrote or if they would like to continue making changes to perfect their play.

Fortunately for me, I did not take a back seat and merely supervise the students, but I participated in everything they did, which has actually thrown me into a loop of creativity have I have never experienced before. I am currently writing three short plays and want to learn more and more about technical theatre. From the moment I arrived, the IRT staff greeted me warmly. I was introduced to many new people and made many great friends. The friendly and family-like atmosphere was almost too much to bear as I parted with hugs, tears, and bittersweet good-byes. If you are ever in Indianapolis, be sure to visit the IRT for they surely have the ability to challenge minds, move hearts and inspire creativity.

When I arrived, my original position was to be filled with both creative and administrative duties. I had the opportunity to audition with my supervisor, Bryan Fonseca, for the Phoenix’s final main stage production of the season, the Terrance McNally play SOME MEN, and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had been cast. Suddenly my internship had two very different sides to one fiery coin.

My day job portion of the internship was centered on the technical aspects of theatre (the ‘behind the scenes’ kind of stuff). I was put under the instruction of two young and incredibly talented theatre technicians, Justin Kidwell, the Technical Director, and Dani Norberg, the Master Electrician. From Justin I learned the finer details of theatrical carpentry including all the steps from how to correctly read stage blueprints to actually building and polishing set pieces. I was also given the chance to work some really powerful and fun tools that I had never even seen before. I can now comfortably say that there is no tool with more spectacle involved than a metal circular saw with it’s cascading shower of sparks and deafening screech as it cuts through pipe. I was not only involved in the stage construction of SOME MEN and then later the play MURDERERS, but also in some major theatre improvements such as the new light grid that we installed with metal pipes and ceiling anchors. I now have significant working knowledge of stage carpentry and construction that I am sure will come to good use in the very near future.

While working under Dani I learned skills that have already presented job opportunities as I will be a technician for the Indy Fringe Festival late this August. Dani taught me all the ins and outs (literally) of lights and their many intricacies. I can now take apart a light and either clean or fix it for better performance. I can also correctly and safely provide maintenance to all electrical connections needed. I learned how to read a light plot as well as what each of the different light models can do and how they are used. I was taught how to create the connection from the lights to the circuits to the dimmers to the light board for a show to work and then I learned how to program and run a show from the light board itself. In my time with Dani I quickly got over my fear of heights and became quite at home on the 20 foot high scaffolding.

When I was not working as a theatre techie, I was on the stage rehearsing and performing SOME MEN. This was an amazing experience for a young actor straight out of Ball Theatre. I was able to talk to and learn from actors with 20 plus years of professional acting experience and learned about different schools of acting and how they applied individually to the show. I learned much from the rest of the cast as well as my director, Bryan Fonseca, and have grown leaps and bounds as an actor. It has been very different to be involved in a two week rehearsal and six week run rather than Wabash’s usual five week rehearsal and four day run. It has also been really cool to have my first show outside of Wabash received so well by so many Indianapolis theatre goers (By the way, show up! The show itself runs until July 19th and is well worth the trip!).

I couldn’t have had a better and more comprehensive real world theatre experience than I did here at The Phoenix Theatre. It has been an amazing time with fantastic people. I can’t wait to take the volumes I have learned here back to Wabash and beyond.

Photo above right: Goodrich (middle row, center) with the cast of SOME MEN

Photo above left: Goodrich (right) in SOME MEN

On my first day I was told the Museum’s largest event of the year, Indian Market and Festival, was underway. Indian Market was one of the events I assisted with. I collaborated with the museum’s staff in setting up and making all the needed preparations. However, my main responsibility is to assist visiting artists that attend the museum and make workshops, presentation, and lectures; as well as display their artwork. Also, I am to help in other events and galleries dealing with public programs, such as Canal Fest, on July 4th.
During my first week I had the pleasure of working with Shawna and Roger Cain, a Cherokee couple who collaborated in making river cane basketry. Both were amazing people and although I was only with them for a week the level of knowledge, both in basket weaving and the Cherokee culture, I obtained was astounding.

After Shawna and Roger left I began preparing for Indian Market, as well as working with visiting artist Jody Naranjo. Jody Naranjo is an award winning potter who was at the Eiteljorg for a week. In that week I worked with her in setting up workshops and presentations. While working with Jody, I was not only able to learn about the Santa Pueblo culture, but the process it takes to make pottery from scratch. It was really exciting to work with Jody since such opportunities are rare. Now, in July, I have the opportunity to work with David Moses Bridges, a Passamaquoddy Native American who creates wigwams and birch bark canoes, and Michael Smith, an African American actor, singer, guitarist and a cowboy.

Up to now the biggest excitement has been meeting new artists and talking with them about their art and the labor in making their pieces. Such enthusiasm was fostered by Indian Market, as I was able to spend time with over 150 artists. Furthermore, it was thrilling to see a group of five Wabash men come down to the market as volunteers. This was something, both appreciated and thanked by the Eiteljorg staff. Conclusively, I can easily say that I am enjoying every bit of my internship and highly recommend this opportunity to other Wabash men who appreciate art as much as I do.

Photo above: Potter Jody Naranjo and Juan Diaz

I am a rising junior Economics major and Spanish minor at Wabash College from Lake Bluff, Illinois.  Over the course of my two years at Wabash, I have found many great advantages in attending Wabash; one in particular is its thousands of committed alumni.  Year after year, Wabash College alumni offer their time to students in order to better prepare us for our careers after graduation.  I recently had the exciting opportunity to participate in a brief externship with one such alumnus, Greg Jania ’93, a partner at WP Global Partners, a private equity firm in Chicago.

On my first day with Mr. Jania, I met with him briefly in his office, and we casually discussed Wabash, Chicago, and careers.  Soon enough, Mr. Jania handed me a packet regarding a business and asked me to read through it, marking strengths and weaknesses.  Afterwards, we were ready to meet the men behind the packet of information and numbers in the boardroom.  I walked into the surreal room and looked around at the executive leather chairs, marble table, and beautiful view of a Chicago harbor.  I took a moment to process my experience.  I thought “Wow” – here was where real business deals were discussed and investments agreements were made.  During the meeting, I watched Mr. Jania carefully analyze statistics and question the two businessmen promoting their company.  After thanking them for visiting, Mr. Jania explained to me that analysis and critical thinking is an integral part of his work.  His job is to seriously consider if each sales pitch is a solid investment for his firm based on a wide variety of questions like the size, type, and timing of investment – a lot to consider! 

Mr. Jania was kind enough to take me out to lunch in the sunny downtown area near his building.  There, the conversation was relaxed as we discussed all sorts of things.  I asked him about his decision to attend Wabash and he entertained me with some college stories from his years at Wabash – not much has changed!

After another meeting in the afternoon and more critical analysis, the day was complete.  Mr. Jania welcomed me back for a second day and I graciously accepted.

The second day was as interesting as the first.  Mr. Jania and I met with a few more prospective clients and analyzed more numbers.  Again, Mr. Jania offered to take me out to lunch.  There we talked about my Ecuador immersion trip with Wabash, an internship, firefighting, lifeguarding, and a Sigma Chi leadership trip, and my school year.  He offered to help me in any way he could from resume building to even more alumni connections. 

My externship was a wonderful way to network to an alumnus and get a sense for a possible future career.  Mr. Jania and other alumni are great connections to have.  Learning of his time in the work force is a great asset to have especially in the competitive job market.  In a practical sense, I was able to put my economics background into perspective in my analysis of statistics and add to my knowledge-base on the investing industry.

The Career Center may provide some of the same resources as it does during the school year, but Jake and I are primarily concerned with two main projects that we have been working on. Our first project is the popular Community Fair that occurs during the first week of the school year. Jake and I are currently in the process of coordinating the 3^rd annual fair. For those who may be unfamiliar with the event, the fair provides an opportunity for the Wabash Community to interact with Crawfordsville-area businesses and organizations. Local businesses and organizations are able to increase their visibility and elicit service and volunteer help, and the Wabash Community is able to learn about their surrounding environment. The Community Fair is a particularly great event for freshmen who are embarking on a new chapter of their life in an unfamiliar environment. Jake and I are looking to increase the fair’s attendance this year. We plan on including more local businesses and organizations than previous years and we are brainstorming fun activities that will draw people to the event.

Jake explains our second project:

Our second project this summer is the Alumni Interviewing DVD.  We have contacted many alumni all over the country to help us make the best DVD of interviewing advice possible.  Our first travels took us to Chicago.  The list of alumni ranges in year of graduation and occupation.  We hope to bring the best advice to our students here at Wabash College.  Our questions include advice on resumes, cover letters, dress code, graduate school, and much, much more.  While in Chicago, Pat and I attended a Cubs game.  They beat the Rockies 10-9 on an six-run eighth inning.  We are going to travel to Denver in the upcoming weeks to visit alumni out there.

All the alumni that we have interviewed have been more than helpful. Students should keep in mind that networking can help with the internship and job search process. The help that Wabash alumni can provide is a valuable resource. With that being said, we would like to graciously thank all participating alumni. Without your support and advice, this DVD would not be possible.  

Photos: Top--Pat Patterson '09 and Jake German '11  Bottom--Pat & Jake interviewing Craig Currie '85 from eToys.    

As I have no idea what I will do with my life, there was really one major factor that dictated which internship I chose, and that was location.  I was born and raised in Southern Indiana and, after 21 years of exposure, I decided that I simply had to get out of the state for awhile.  No offense Indiana, but there’s 49 other states out there to experience.  In fact, getting out of the Midwest in general was appealing as well.  So when I found out that this opportunity was in Boulder, Colorado (someplace I have never even come close to in my limited travels growing up), I jumped all over it like a fat man on Cheetos.

And, let me tell you, am I glad I did.  This place is absolutely unbelievable.  Every morning that I get up to jump on the bus (yes, they have really great public transportation here!) to go to my internship, I get an awesome view of the mountains to the west.  And the climate is great too; it’s extremely different than Indiana as many of you may already know.  Unlike Indiana, there is zero humidity, it’s incredibly dry.  And, being over a mile above sea level, the weather changes throughout the day with chilly mornings, hot afternoons, and cool evenings.  The weather is so nice in fact, many homes here don’t even have an air conditioner (on purpose, that is).  Besides having a nice view of the mountains and a good climate, Boulder as a city is very aesthetically pleasing.  Because of the wealth that runs through this city, everything here seems so new (or maybe just well maintained) and very clean.  And, of course, the people are really friendly here; but in all honesty, it’d take a real Scrooge to be unhappy and mean to others in a city like this.

The internship is going really well.  I’m about four weeks into it now and I have been moved around to just about every department on the floor of the store in that time period.  Since I began, I’ve cashiered, worked the customer service booth, helped with security, worked in three different departments, and spent entire days just taking inventory.  And I’m going to keep being moved around as it continues, so that in the coming weeks I’ll work in receiving, marketing, buying, and more.  Basically, by the end of the internship, I’ll have worked in every department in the store and should have a good handle on how to manage a business.  This setup actually works incredibly well for me as I am pretty much clueless as to what I want to do after I graduate next year (as I indicated above); getting short, comprehensive immersions in each position really helps me determine the things that I might actually like to do for a career (and of course the things I would not like to do… and, of course, there have been a few of those too).  I also feel like I’ve gotten a few really great stories out of the experience too, like the girl that came in while I was working in security; she came up to me, gave me a hug, and then leaned in to kiss me on the cheek... in front of her boyfriend.  I’m still regarded very highly by my coworkers over that one.  Speaking of my coworkers, I should mention that they are pretty awesome; I can’t think of any that I have not enjoyed working with so far.

I’ve also gotten to meet the alumnus who made this internship possible, Bob Charles.  He’s a bit of a bigwig over here as he’s been a successful businessman over the course of his life.  He’s the nicest guy and a true testament to the quality of Wabash College alumni.

Oh, I should also mention that Scott and Betsy along with their interns came to visit us.  They came to hobnob and network for Wabash men who might one day want to work in Colorado.  We had lunch together and got to go down to Coors Field in downtown Denver to watch a Rockies game.  Let me tell you, we got these amazing seats.  In fact, they were so great, not mentioning them in the blog would be a downright shame.  They were in the fifth row, just behind the home team dugout.  I’m not much of a baseball fan, but I could not help but really get into it with such amazing seats.  And how did we get such great seats?  One word: connections.

Photos: Top-Jose Barriga (also interning at Liquor Mart), Nick Woehler, and Jack Stoakes the General Manager of the business.
Center-Nick, Jose and Bob Charles '59, owner of the business
Bottom-picture taken from great seats at Rockies game

For a little bit less than month now I've been an intern at the British Consulate in Katowice, Poland. Thanks to the generosity of Mr. Stephen M. Coons and Mr. Philip M. Coons I am able to determine if diplomacy might be something I want to do after I graduate from Wabash as a political science major.  My typical day at the consulate is quite busy. I have to translate documents and articles, I deal with people who call and come in person to our diplomatic facility in order to resolve various problems, I write articles, and even represent my consulate at diplomatic meetings. I find all this quite demanding, but the satisfaction is great and I'm learning a lot. I am definitely glad that I tried to get an internship related to my course of study as early as my freshman year.

Pictured above is Filip with Mr. Allan Stretton, the British Consul in Katowice, Poland