An increasing number of SUNY Oneonta students are making the most of the pause between semesters by taking advantage of summer internship opportunities that offer hands-on experience, networking and a chance to apply academic knowledge in real-world settings.
“Internships allow students to explore their interests, build on and complement learning in courses, work with professionals and practitioners in the field, and gain relevant career experiences and competencies,” said Christy Funsch, director of the university’s Career Planning and Networking Center (CPNC). “Internships also present networking opportunities and can help level the playing field for students without family and friend connections on which to draw. Employers consistently say that internship experience is the most influential factor they consider when deciding between two otherwise equally qualified job candidates.”
This summer, more than 130 Oneonta students are getting firsthand practice in disciplines ranging from art to sport management during internships across the state and country and even abroad. These students received more than $500,000 in funding for internship stipends, thanks to SUNY funds and the SUNY Oneonta Foundation.
Two senior Dietetics majors, Elanah Elthorp and Rachael Pouliot, spent a week at Camp Victory in Millville, Pennsylvania, as dietetic/nutrition interns during the Keystone Diabetic Kids Camp.
Elthorp and Pouliot worked with young people ages 15 to 16 with Type 1 diabetes, helping plan diets, serving meals and presenting nutrition lessons. The experience gave them a deeper understanding of the condition and what managing Type 1 diabetes looks like on a daily basis.
“Watching these campers confidently manage their diabetes, support each other, and navigate challenges with such resilience was truly inspiring,” Elthorp said. “This experience strengthened my passion for nutrition and reminded me of the power of education, community, and support in helping others just because you can.”
Enoch Ampong, a student in the Cooperstown Graduate Program, is serving as a curatorial intern this summer at the Fenimore Art Museum. Ampong is helping research and plan an upcoming exhibition while gaining hands-on experience behind the scenes at the museum.
After completing his master's degree, Ampong hopes to build a career in the museum field, with a focus on African American history. Through his work at the Fenimore, he's also discovering a passion for folk art and appreciates the opportunity to explore how the two areas can connect.
"It's a great experience sitting down with experts and planning an exhibition,” he said. “I'm really looking forward to seeing the exhibition we're working on come to life."
Through the SUNY Washington Internship Program, senior Ari Boyd—a Criminal Justice major and Anthropology minor—is interning with the Maryland State Police Field Operations Bureau, assigned to the College Park Barrack.
Throughout the internship, Boyd has ridden along with troopers on patrol, shadowed specialized units including the SWAT Team and spent time with the Forensic Sciences Division. The experience has given Boyd an inside look at the many careers within the Maryland State Police while strengthening a passion for a career in law enforcement.
“One of the coolest moments was getting to take a helicopter ride from Joint Base Andrews with the Maryland State Police Aviation Command,” Boyd said.
Junior Meteorology major Ava Hilton is interning with WKTV in Utica this summer, working alongside Chief Meteorologist Bill Kardas. Hilton is helping prepare forecasts, analyzing weather models and temperatures, and recording multiple weather segments during each shift.
Behind the scenes, she’s learning how live broadcasts come together, from wearing an IFB earpiece and taking time cues during recordings to reviewing and selecting the strongest forecast for the air. She also helped develop a new weather graphic that transitions from live radar and satellite imagery to forecast model data.
During a summer of active severe weather in Central New York, Hilton also participated in live severe weather coverage, learning how to analyze rotation data and detect potential tornadic activity.
“From the very first forecast I recorded to my last, the difference was huge,” she said. “This internship made me a better forecaster and only solidified what I really want to do with my life.”