By Kenzie Carlson
A total of 26 Edgewood College students this semester are already benefitting from a $450,000 grant over a three-year period from the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation.
The Inclusive Internship Project is open to any Edgewood student who wants to gain the experience of an internship, while also alleviating financial burdens.
Along with the internship, students are required to take a 0-4 credit course, which helps to better track the students through assessments at the end of each semester.
Sara Hanson, director of career development and internship coordinator at Edgewood College, said an intern prep course at Edgewood helps students prepare for their internship and enrollment is increasing, meaning many more students are interested. “This is not just a work experience,” she said, “but a learning experience as well.”
Dan Hauck, a senior at Edgewood College, was in the internship project in the fall of 2019.
Hauck interned at FEED Kitchens, managed by Chris Brockel. The FEED Kitchen is designed to eliminate food waste while also helping those in need.
Hauck discovered that internship opportunity through Social Science Professor Julie Whitaker after taking her Food and Social Justice class. He spent about 12 hours a week at the internship and created a presentation, managed the social media accounts, and helped train volunteers.
Natalie Lenoch, another student at Edgewood College, interned with Girls on the Run of South-Central Wisconsin as a programmer.
Lenoch learned about this internship through a free app, Handshake, “The process for applying was really simple using the Handshake platform,” she said. As an intern, she did research and created spreadsheets for the organization. She also kept journals to help reflect and had an end-of-term assessment to check on progress.
To help better promote the Inclusive Internship project, Hanson and Richelle Kasten, the internship gift coordinator, are hosting a Community Internship Fair in the Washburn Heritage Room at Edgewood College on March 3.
Students can meet with the companies Edgewood is partnered with and discuss the internship opportunities available for the future. Contact Richelle Kasten, the Inclusive Internship Project coordinator, for more information: rkasten@edgewood.edu or 608-663-6740.
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