SUMMER INTERNSHIPS

Students carry classroom knowledge into workplace

East Carolina University students spent their summer delving into internships, travel, research and service.

At internships across the United States and beyond, students learned about their intended professions while gaining valuable on-the-job experience before returning to campus for the fall semester.

Internships allow students to explore career options and utilize what they learn in the classroom through hands-on experiences. In today’s competitive global economy, students with relevant workforce skills and specific experiences that show the development of these skills will have a distinct advantage when entering the job market upon graduation.

- Patrick Roberts, associate director of ECU Career Services

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than half of graduates secured full-time positions from their internships or work contacts. Another study found that college graduates who complete three or more internships are more likely to secure full-time positions. More than 80 percent of graduates said that completing an internship helped them shift their career goals, Roberts said.

ECU Career Services recently launched a new job posting database called Handshake, which lists internship opportunities across the nation. For more information on services and programs, visit www.ecu.edu/career.

From engineering and construction to biology and communication, here we spotlight some ECU students and their summer experiences.

A ‘ribbeting’ experience for Mikayla Johnson

Jennifer Vargas Hernandez pilots new design

Joseph Morris’ European trek was music to his ‘sole’

William Stanton puts skills to use for urban parking planning

Guillot twins build on classroom knowledge

Kathryn Dawson goes behind the scenes at CBS

Old passion resurfaces for Emily Scott