Intern Experience

Liz Kates ('09) – Independence Air
"As a marketing intern for the airline Independence Air in summer 2005, I worked at the Washington Redskins training camp because Independence Air was the official airline sponsor of the team. I sat in the VIP tents right next to the field and talked with the players. During one Thursday night Mystics game, we needed iFLY, our mascot, out on the court. Well, the thing is that only those under 5 feet, 4 inches tall can fit into the iFLY costume, and I was the only person at that particular event that fit that description. I was on national television, on the Mystics basketball court, in a plane mascot costume dancing around and trying my best not to fall over.  It was one of the sweetest memories I think I will ever have."

Timothy Davenport ('08) - Ferguson Enterprises
"As a Ferguson Enterprises intern during summer 2006, I learned all aspects of corporate America and the plumbing industry. Only the second year for the internship program at Ferguson Enterprises, it was an absolutely amazing experience. From day one, I felt part of the Ferguson family, and that feeling stays with me today. I gained important business knowledge and was able to put my leadership capabilities into practice. Interns at Ferguson are responsible for the same day-to-day tasks as full-time employees. I spent more than a month in the warehouse, pulling orders, loading trucks, driving forklifts, and occasionally making urgent deliveries to job sites. After my time in the warehouse, I moved into inside sales and showroom sales, where I became responsible for making sales and providing excellent customer service. The President’s Leadership Program allowed me to enter the workplace comfortably with the mindset of a leader as well as a successful businessman. The knowledge and skills you learn while participating in an internship are priceless and will become the foundation of a successful career after graduation."