PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Students seeking real work experience and networking with influential business people may benefit from summer internships, and the Internship Hub of Aroostook wants to help.
The Internship Hub is a program designed by Aroostook Aspirations Initiative (AAI) to connect students to employers in Aroostook County by providing hands-on learning experiences to expose the future workforce to the career paths available to them in this area. Students from throughout Maine are already committing to internships in Aroostook County.
“My internship not only serves as a requirement for my degree, but also as an educational and professional outlet,” said Leslie Campbell, a third-year business major at Husson University. “Through this experience, I want to gain effective tactics to reach a large audience and to come away with a solid background for my future career.”
Jordyn Madore, AAI’s intern and scholar coordinator, encourages all students to participate in internship experiences.
“Internships are a great way for students to explore career paths, learn new skills, and apply what they’re learning in the classroom to a real work environment. On a community level, these internships create connections for students within our local communities and serve as a tool in the effort to reverse the outward migration of our County’s young people,” said Madore.
IHA acts as a bridge between education and industry by connecting participating Aroostook County employers with college students through internship opportunities.
Amber Hulstrunk, a second-year English and communications major at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, has plans for her upcoming internship.
“I’m looking forward to gaining experience during this internship. I want to use this as an opportunity to better myself in the work environment and learn better communication skills,” said Hulstrunk, who is also a 2015 Gauvin Scholar.
She will complete her internship at the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. Theresa Fowler, chamber executive director and Hulstrunk’s mentor, said they are pleased to host a Gauvin Scholar as an intern.
“It is important to provide area students with information regarding all that Aroostook County has to offer and make them aware of the many wonderful work opportunities,” said Fowler. “An intern in our office will be involved in planning some of our major events, welcoming tourists and assisting with improving our office systems. Working with interns helps us by exposing us to ideas and thoughts of our future employees, customers and supporters.”
For more information on IHA or to secure a summer intern, contact Madore at jordyn@gauvinfund.org.
