Preparing to prosper
Our interns that come from Western Michigan University’s Capital Internship Program are well prepared, eager to learn and easily find a place in our office. They are able to make substantial contributions by having one foot in the district and another in Lansing, ensuring our office maintains a strong connection to our community.
Sen. Sean McCann, BA '93, Michigan Senate
Immaculata James
Immaculata James has had a passion for politics since working as an activist in her home country of Malaysia. She has served as a summer legislative aide in Michigan’s capital city for Sen. Sean McCann, handling relationships with constituents, volunteering at events in the 20th district and conducting research for legislation.
In her role, the political science major is able to work on a broad range of tasks, including legislative projects, policy research and fieldwork. One day she may be reaching out to constituents to get their feedback about McCann’s performance or answering their questions on legislation and policy; another day she might be volunteering at events like the Kalamazoo Pride festival or Kalamazoo Community Roundtable.
While her tasks cover a broad range of topics and policies, she says tourism has been a long-time interest.
The experience as a legislative aide "has taught me to work as a team toward a goal set … and, above all, being curious and asking questions to increase my knowledge."
McCann, a proud Bronco alumnus who participated in the Capital Internship Program as an undergraduate political science student at Western, understands the impact such internships can have.
"It’s fantastic to be able to stay connected to a program that provided me with such phenomenal opportunities," he says. "I’m proud to give WMU students a place where they can learn about state government and engage with our community. I look forward to seeing some of our current capital interns return to Lansing as legislators or staff in the future." ■
I get to work directly with the nurses on the floor, build nursing skills and gain lots of experience so that by the time I graduate, I have almost a year's experience on the floor.
Cade Hine, labor and delivery nurse extern at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo
Cade Hine
On the labor and delivery floor, Cade Hine is witnessing the birth of his own career.
"I knew after my first day that's where my passion was."
As a nurse extern, he's involved in just about every aspect of the birthing process.
"I've seen multiple babies born … and I've seen the look on the mothers' faces as they get to hold their babies for the first time. I have personally held a first-time mom's hand while she was getting a C-section, and I was able to comfort her throughout the procedure," he says. "I've helped set up the OR for surgery, spent a day working triage and so many other things. I absolutely love my job."
Western's Bronson School of Nursing is the reason Hine, who grew up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, chose to come to Kalamazoo.
"We gain a lot of hands-on experience outside the classroom and build a lot of relationships with nurses and management. So when the time rolls around for internships or externships, we all have worked in an area of the hospital that we love the most," he says. "Western's nursing program really is superb at helping students build connections and get set up for success." ■
I love that I have the opportunity to improve my interview skills with every encounter I have. I also love working downtown!
Ca'Jon Martin, copywriting intern at The Kalamazoo Promise
Ca'Jon Martin
A Kalamazoo Promise Scholar is now crafting the story of future scholars to come. Senior Ca’Jon Martin is a copywriting intern for the program that offers free college tuition to graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools, writing content for the organization’s website and social media platforms.
“I want the content that I create for The Kalamazoo Promise to push the organization’s goals in any direction that is beneficial,” the public relations major says. “I hope that after this internship, I can be a better writer not only for clients but for myself as well.”
Of his many responsibilities, it’s the new connections he’s made with community partners that is most exciting about the experience.
"I love that I have the opportunity to improve my interview skills with every encounter I have," says Martin about his first internship. "I have grown to invest in myself and my abilities. Seldom do I second-guess myself because of the opportunities I’ve had to grow as a well-rounded individual and an even more confident professional in the field of public relations." ■
Photo courtesy: Jacob Waggoner, BBA '19, The Kalamazoo Promise
Western does a great job preparing them for great careers in aviation. We see time and again the evidence, because they end up being successful team members for us who quite often stay for several years—or sometimes their entire career—at Duncan.
Andy Richards, chief operating officer, Duncan Aviation
Yewon Lee
The sky is not the limit but the goal for Yewon Lee; one day she hopes to be flying through the air in an aircraft she built herself. Western has given her the space to put that dream within reach.
With a solid foundation in aircraft schematics as well as engine and airframe technology, the aviation flight science and technical operations double major is expanding her skills on electrical systems as an avionics intern with Duncan Aviation. Yewon spends her days learning how to route wires for things like aircraft instruments, warning lights and sensors.
"It's the first time I have been able to put my work into an airworthy plane," she says, remembering her first assignment at Duncan rerouting wires from start to finish on a client's aircraft. "It was cool because I did all the work by myself."
An international student from South Korea and the College of Aviation's 2022 Presidential Scholar, the internship will bolster a resume that also includes professional ratings and certifications obtained while completing her studies.
"As I learned everything I wanted, I could dream more," she says. "I really appreciate Western for bringing my dreams back." ■
I would love someday to be able to open my own plastic-free grocery store to reduce plastic waste. This is a perfect opportunity for gaining knowledge to help my plan, as well as helping me learn how to cater specific customer needs.
Korina Luco, Category management intern at Dom's Kitchen and Market, Chicago
Korina Luco and Dominic Gee
Serving up skills, marketing students Dominic Gee and Korina Luco both landed summer internships at Dom's Kitchen and Market in Chicago.
As a packaging intern, Gee helps revamp and improve catering packaging and plan company events. Besides learning about the food industry and business, he hopes to immerse himself within the company and create new connections.
“I have stepped out of my comfort zone multiple times,” he says. “Professionally, by stepping out of my comfort zone, I have improved my communication skills and I’m more willing to put myself out there to make new connections.
Luco secured an internship in category management, analyzing data and applying that knowledge to business practices. This summer she's been part of the team working on the assortment and visual representation of products on display at Dom’s second location, which requires her to be in the new building measuring, planning and envisioning the blueprints.
“I am hoping to grow my knowledge of the food marketing industry and … learn how to analyze data, as well as build my professional affiliation,'' she says.
After graduating in the spring, her dream is to open a plastic-free grocery store. The internship "is a perfect opportunity for gaining knowledge to help my plan, as well as helping me learn how to cater to specific customer needs.” ■
My time at WMU has helped me find my place and purpose in the world, both professionally and personally.
Isabella Waite, product design intern at Melissa & Doug, Wilton, Conn.
Isabella Waite
It's not all fun and games—toys are serious business for Isabella Waite. She's spent her summer at toy giant Melissa & Doug's headquarters in Wilton, Connecticut, working to devise the next great way for kids to play.
"A typical day at work for me involves lots of ideation, sketching, digital rendering and even making realistic prototypes of toys," says Waite.
While the specifics of her projects are top secret, she's hopeful we'll see toys she helped design on store shelves next year.
Waite won over her interviewers with the dynamic portfolio she's built in the Richmond Institute for Design and Innovation, based in the College of Fine Arts.
"The blending of business, engineering and fine arts courses within the product design program has helped me become a well-rounded designer and approach projects with the entire process of launching a product in mind," she says. "I have had numerous experiences that helped spark my creativity and passion for design." ■
(Photo courtesy: Léa Rosemary Photography)
The research I perform on Hall thrusters is so exciting because I will be able to see these thrusters launch into space. I even got to see the Psyche spacecraft while it was at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in their clean room.
Margaret Mooney, NASA fellow, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Margaret Mooney
When NASA's Psyche spacecraft launches next year, headed for an asteroid between Mars and Jupiter, Margaret Mooney's research will be hurtling through space along with it.
A NASA Space Technologies Graduate Research Opportunities fellow, Mooney is tasked with investigating the fundamental physics that drive unstable plasma dynamics in hollow cathodes.
"Cathodes are the very heart of Hall thrusters" which will be used on both Psyche and in NASA's upcoming Gateway mission, which NASA calls "humanity's first space station in lunar orbit to support NASA's deep space exploration plans."
"My fellowship allows me to study incredibly exciting and complex plasma physics phenomena that no one has investigated before," says Mooney, a mechanical engineering doctoral student who is currently on an internship rotation at the Naval Research Laboratory. "To develop novel concepts and link them to already discovered physics is my dream. Through this fellowship opportunity, I have also met the top people in my field and even worked with these people I highly respect."
Mooney, who earned her bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from Western in 2018, has also interned at the NASA Glenn Research Center and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She plans to apply the concepts and techniques she acquired in the field to her upcoming thesis research. ■
(Photo courtesy: U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Steffen)
My career goal is to be a general manager or senior vice president of a professional franchise—preferably sports. Anything that allows my personality and work to shine.
Brandon Harlin, communications intern at New York Giants
Brandon Harlin
As a kid playing on football fields around Highland Park, Michigan, Brandon Harlin grew up idolizing NFL players. Now he's working side by side with them as a communications intern with the New York Giants.
From managing media profiles and launching a new website to help players tackle press coverage, Harlin is seeing his dreams of sports management come to fruition.
"Just the ability to grab and coach players for camera time is cool; it's like I'm their PR coach," says Harlin, whose ultimate goal is to lead a sports franchise.
Harlin built a strong foundation for this experience through a previous internship with WMU Athletics.
"I can have an educated say in a lot that I do (with the Giants) outside of what I'm required. The WMU internship taught me hard work and to be a sponge for knowledge."
As his internship with the Giants progresses, Harlin is looking forward to gaining more experience and knowledge of the game and his position within a professional sports organization.
"I arrived (at Western) a boy from a small town with no clue where to go. Now I'm a man in the Big Apple with an actual path," he says. "I know this will unlock many more doors for me." ■
(Photos courtesy: Matthew Swensen)
