When senior Kaviya Dhir first signed up for her internship, she did not expect she would get to workshop with a writer who worked with Angelina Jolie and Gemma Chan.
This past summer, Dhir and 137 fellow seniors were given the opportunity to select an internship — setting a new record. Overseen by Alumni Coordinator Catherine Williford and Director of Alumni Engagement Philip Cannon, the Summer Internship Program sponsors provide rising seniors the opportunity to gain real world experience in careers they may want to pursue. Internship providers are often alumni, creating a community between current and past students.
“[The internship] is something that not every school gives its students, and I am grateful for that because these people were St. John’s students themselves,” Dhir said.
Founded in 2011, this program started with the goal of getting 8 students and 6 students ended up getting an internship. In 2019, the pandemic caused participation to skyrocket because of the numerous virtual online internships provided by alumni.
“For the most part, this is the first time students will experience professional environments, and we want them to just feel like they can dive right in,” Williford said.
The internship program process begins early in the first semester with Networking Night, where students meet alumni and sponsors and learn about possible internships available for the upcoming summer. Following Networking Night, students submit a Google Form highlighting their top three industry choices for summer placement.
Afterwards, Cannon and Williford spent two months matching students to available internship openings. Most students receive their top choice and then contact their sponsor to coordinate details. The typical internship lasts for two weeks, but can be extended if the student and sponsor both agree to prolong the internship.
“We really want the students to take the wheel when it comes to this internship,” Williford said. “They have a lot of control and can decide how their experience will play out.”
Senior Morgan Raizner, who applied for a business marketing placement, raved about her summer internship with Sweet Paris, the restaurant chain founded by Allison Chavez ‘03.
“What was really cool about my internship was I got to move around a lot,” said Raizner. “We spent a lot of time learning about operations.”
In addition to learning from the business, Raizner was also able to contribute to the business. She helped with social media content for the brand, and was even tasked to drive to various locations to check in on the franchisees and see how each store was run.
“I made such valuable connections and wished the internship could have lasted longer,” Raizner said. “The internship helped solidify my desire to pursue a career in corporate business.”
Like Raizner, senior Grace Bowling was able to further confirm her interest in a future career. Hoping to pursue a law degree, Bowling spent two weeks under the direction of Judge Nicole Perdue.
“I didn’t really know what to expect. I knew I was obviously going to be in the courtroom, but I’d never experienced a real trial before,” Bowling said. “I was excited, and I was definitely happy that I got a lot out of it.”
In the two weeks, she spent her time in courthouses listening to lawyers present their cases and reading lawyers’ arguments.
“Getting to work with entrepreneurs and people in corporate America was interesting because I got to learn about their progression and how they made it to where they are [today],” Raizner said. “That’s something no amount of studying can replicate.”
