Many Southwest Baptist University students are completing unique internship experiences during their summer break. Internships are a great way to enhance your education, broaden your horizons and gain valuable real-world experience.
Bailey Harman, an accounting and information assurance major from Dunnegan, Mo., is
working as an intern at Ozarks Community Health Center (OCHC) in Hermitage, Mo. She
actually secured this ongoing internship while only a freshman and has gained experience
in various capacities at OCHC over the past two and a half years. Bailey is able to
work closely, one-on-one, with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on varying tasks
and responsibilities, gaining beneficial experience that complements her classroom
education.
“SBU is helping me pursue my goals by making sure I have experiences such as internships, class choices, and networking opportunities that are in line with what I want to do in the future,” Bailey said.
Internships help students discover their passions and pursue their goals, while attaining beneficial job skills.
Mikaya Wallis, an organizational and strategic communication major from Eldon, Mo.,
is spending her summer as an intern with the Missouri Department of Conservation working
on the department’s magazine. Her internship is allowing her to gain experience with
a variety of skills including writing, graphic design and social media analytics.
“Every professor I have had at SBU has taken time to help develop my skill and craft,” said Mikaya. “The one-on-one attention I have received from SBU faculty has provided me with extra knowledge that has carried over into my internship.”
SBU faculty are intentional about using their connections to help students find and prepare for internship opportunities that will equip them to pursue their career goals.
Ian Cepeda, an economics/finance major from San Antonio, Texas, is interning with
Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union in the collections department, focusing on loss
mitigation. His work includes collecting and calculating data, using formulas and
skills that he already learned in his classes at SBU.
“Without the help of SBU faculty, I would not be comfortable doing the ratios and formulas I use in this position,” Ian said. “SBU also has taught me the people skills and communication skills I need to pursue my professional goals.”
Preparing students to be servant leaders in a global society is at the heart of SBU’s mission. Our students are taking what they are learning to make a difference around the world.
Emily Raines, a recent management graduate and current Master of Business Administration
(MBA) student from Marshall, Mo., is serving as a summer intern with JAARS (Jungle
Aviation and Radio Service) in their human resources department. Emily is primarily
focused on helping with a strategic workforce planning project and needs assessment
for JAARS. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her business skills in a way
that also incorporates her love for missions.
“I love how faith and business integrate,” Emily said. “SBU does a great job of integrating faith into the classroom and teaching us how faith should be part of every aspect of our lives.”
Connecting what they are learning in the classroom to what they are observing in the workforce is a major benefit for students completing internship experiences.
Savana Phillips, a psychology major from Kansas City, Mo., is a summer intern with
Burrell Behavioral Health. She specifically is working in their KLASS (Kids Learning
About Social Situations) program. Savana helps lead and coordinate learning activities
for children with varying diagnoses to learn how to express their emotions and interact
with others in a healthy way. Her interactions with the children are helping her become
more familiar with recognizing different diagnoses. She credits SBU coursework for
preparing her to succeed in this position.
“My coursework taught me about different diagnoses and how to properly read the DSM-V (standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the U.S.),” Savana reports. “When I look at a child’s profile, I am able to understand the diagnosis and interpret the DSM-5 lingo. The other intern from a different college did not know this information already and I was able to help her.”
Whatever career field you wish to explore, SBU is committed to helping prepare you to succeed in internships and other opportunities to ensure you are ready for career success after graduation.
Garrett Brown, an accounting major from Lebanon, Mo., has a unique financial co-op
intern position with Emerson Climate Technologies this summer. In working closely
with leaders in several different roles, Garrett is actively involved with helping
create a new planning strategy the company will implement in the next fiscal year.
“Without a doubt, SBU was crucial in my preparation for this internship,” Garrett said. “Because of SBU’s strenuous accounting program, I could hit the ground running and was able to understand what was needed of me.”
Using what they have learned in a real-world context during a summer internship helps ignite passion in students to continue to learn and grow.
Taylor Vestring, an accounting major from Ozark, Mo., is working this summer at O’Reilly
Automotive Corporate Headquarters assisting the accounts receivable division of the
finance department. Although this internship position was originally a part-time position,
Taylor is now working there full-time this summer because her preparation from SBU
equipped her to be ready for the extra work.
“I love SBU because they strive to teach the students what we need to know in order to have a successful future,” Taylor said.
With more than 80 areas of study from which to choose, SBU is a great place to pursue your purpose and experience life-changing opportunities!