A group of Hesston College students are honing their professional skills as interns with the college’s Marketing and Communications team during the spring semester. The internship is an opportunity for students to expand their skills and creativity and build their professional portfolios as freshmen and sophomores – a step in the process that many students don’t start until their junior and senior year.

The interns for the spring 2016 semester, chosen through a competitive application and interview process are Tori Byler, Belleville, Pa., photography; Christy Kauffman, West Liberty, Ohio, graphic design; Abby Musser, Newport News, Va., news and features writing; Karli Rodriguez, Denver, Colo., graphic design; and Caleb Schrock-Hurst, Harrisonburg, Va., sports information.

“These are students who love Hesston College,” said Communications faculty advisor Kendra Burkey. “Of course, they see these internships as a launching pad for their futures, but they also want to give something back. They get to support Hesston’s mission using their own unique talents and creativity. That’s pretty fun to see.”

The partnership between the Communications program and the Marketing and Communications department is now in its third year and gives students hands-on, real world experience in their chosen professional field. Interns have opportunities to brainstorm and create their own projects that benefit the college, as well as work on assigned projects alongside the college’s staff.

“Watching the interns work alongside professionals, I see them building real, relevant skills every week,” said Burkey. “But what I also see is that they feel valued and cared for by the staff. They understand that their ideas matter, and that those ideas will shape the story we tell about Hesston College.”