By: Jax Crall
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The end of the school semester is right around the corner and with that brings loads of opportunities for students around the state and country. For Razorbacks today, the internship is not just about building resumes- it’s also about representing the University of Arkansas with passion.
Internships have been a key part to college success for generations, but finding summer internships are as competitive as ever. According to a Gallup survey, 41% of college students have held a summer internship while pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
In the Arkansas Journalism School, students are also facing similar challenges with competition in internships. School of Journalism Internship Coordinator Gina Shelton said that while many students are looking for internships, in some cases they have to be more persistent and apply for a variety of positions.
For students that are fortunate enough to land these positions, there is a strong sense of pride in representing the Hogs outside of campus, even if a student is the only Razorback working with the company.
“I’m going to be working with other interns all over the U.S. this summer,” Caden Leopold said. “There’s 18 different universities represented at my internship, and I am the only Arkansas student.”
Leopold is a supply chain management major at the University of Arkansas. He is also an example of many students going to a new place next month. He will be traveling to Chicago to work with SRS Building Products, and he shared that he is the first Arkansas intern this branch has ever had.
“My number one goal is to prove that I belong in a competitive space,” Leopold said. “I want Arkansas to be considered just as competitive as any other business school.”
As the summer begins, these Razorback summer interns aren’t just stepping into these new roles, they’re also stepping up to show what the University of Arkansas stands for. This opportunity is not only meant to grow personally and professionally, but also an opportunity to show the pride of being a Razorback.