In honor of National Intern Day, July 25, The Aspire Center is recognizing some of Carthage’s upstanding interns! Eight students in both non-profit and for-profit organizations have been selected to be featured this year.
Non-Profit
Madelyn Leppiaho ’25
Historyand Secondary Education major Intern at Manitowoc County Historical Society WAICU Nonprofit Internship Institute Award Winner
Madelyn is the recipient of a competitive major scholarship award offered annually through the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU). She discovered this opportunity through The Aspire Center and its advertisement of the program. This opportunity gave Madelyn a chance to explore her interests in museums and the non-profit sector.
How does your internship stand out? “I think my internship stands out because of all I have done and learned about museums and the non-profit field. At the Manitowoc County Historical Society, I have learned so much about what it takes to run a museum in terms of marketing, ensuring historical accuracy, and engaging the community. I have worked with kids through summer camps, conducted research in our archives for a local newspaper article, went on the radio to promote the museum, and assisted with grants and research to develop a program that will take place next summer.”
“Overall, I have solidified my view on the importance of making history interesting and accessible for everyone. As I study history and secondary education, I will be able to take many of the skills and lessons I learned from my internship to my future career.”
Emily Van Dixhorn ’26
Social Work and Chinese major Criminal Justice minor Enrichment Programs Intern at Minnetonka Community Education
Emily’s position as the enrichment programs intern with Minnetonka Community Education involves organizing community education events, overseeing summer academic correspondence courses, managing youth enrichment program materials, and a variety of other responsibilities. Through this internship, Emily has improved her confidence and ability to ask for help when needed.
How does your internship stand out?
“Minnetonka Community Education is a division of the school district I graduated from! It’s so meaningful to be able to work in the district that I grew up in. I get to visit youth enrichment classes at my elementary school as part of my internship.”
“Something else that makes my internship stand out is how I am able to use my Chinese. I’ve worked on creating an asynchronous summer global language course for elementary students! I am also working with the community education team to prepare for Tour de Tonka, an annual community bike ride.”
Haley is the human resources intern at the Kenosha Area Family & Aging Services Inc (KAFASI). Her responsibilities involve conducting interviews, organizing job applications, assisting with employee inquiries, and communicating updates in HR policies. Haley found and applied to this internship through her Carthage Handshake account.
How does your internship stand out?
“My internship stands out because KAFASI serves the community. This company is a non-profit organization, and their main goal is to promote healthy aging, strong families, and a connected community. During my time interning for this company, I have come to realize how important an organization like this is. All of the employees truly have the biggest hearts and will help out anyone in need. I am a very ambitious learner, and I’m ready to learn lots of new skills during my time with KAFASI!”
Allyson Grieser ’25
Neuroscience major, Pre-Occupational Therapy program Psychology minor Therapy Intern at Avera Health
Allyson is gaining clinical experience with Avera Health as a therapy intern. She ensures therapists and patients have what they need during sessions to stay efficient and maximize their time. Allyson is also excited about getting to set up and help patients with the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike. The FES is equipment that sends electrical pulses through electrodes to promote movement in patients with little or no voluntary movement capability.
How does your internship stand out?
“What makes my internship stand out is the fact that I am getting clinical experience as an undergraduate student, and I am also getting direct patient care hours by helping patients on/off the FES bike and with transport. There are not a ton of occupational therapy or general therapy related clinical jobs or opportunities for students looking to go into OT, so it is amazing that I am getting hands-on, face-to-face therapy clinical time as an undergraduate.”
“I think the thing I have gained the most from this experience are the opportunities I have had to interact with both occupational therapists, other hospital staff, and patients. I have learned so much this summer, and I know that I wouldn’t have learned it without the interactions I have had with both therapists and patients!”
AJ’s internship at AbbVie involves data analysis, data visualization, clear communication, and technical skill with particular software. He was connected to this opportunity through The Aspire Center, and he is already applying his learned skills to his work.
How does your internship stand out?
“My internship at Abbvie stands out because I get to blend technical skills with creative problem-solving by building Power BI dashboards and a website for my team. I focus on making complex software concepts easier to understand and explaining technical debt in a clear, concise manner. This role allows me to make a tangible impact by improving team efficiency and communication.”
As a Power BI developer and data analyst intern at AbbVie, Sarah is utilizing learned skills, gaining new knowledge, and building her network in her field. She discovered this internship through Carthage’s Spring 2024 Internship and Career Fair.
How does your internship stand out?
“I have already designed, developed, and implemented business intelligence solutions using Microsoft Power BI and Power Automate. This role allows me to gain valuable hands-on industry experience and explore my interests beyond the classroom.”
“AbbVie is a Fortune 500 company and a leader in global healthcare. I have had the opportunity to be involved with projects that will have a significant and positive impact on the company.”
As a student studying environmental science, Taylor’s intern responsibilities at Kapur and Associates include conducting wetland determinations, habitat assessments, and erosion control inspections/permits. She found this internship and applied through LinkedIn.
How does your internship stand out? “My internship stands out because of the environment I get to work in. Everyone is so friendly and helpful and there’s never a dull moment here. I get to explore new places almost every day, and I learn something new every day! Safety is also a priority here, which I love. I’ve gained so many skills from this internship like communication, mapping, leadership skills, and so much more. It is fast paced, and I have so much fun working here!”
Kylie Watters ’25
Marketing major Graphic Design minor Visual Retail and Marketing Intern at Jockey International
Kylie is utilizing her marketing major as a visual retail and marketing intern at Jockey International. She learned about this opportunity through her network of peers and one of Carthage’s well-attended career fairs.
How does your internship stand out? “I do all things visual and retail, and I work direct to consumer (DTC). I am tasked to closely engage with other departments and stores and plan out floor sets, organize our materials, and ship things to stores around the country! I also help with anything and everything my manager or department needs help with.”
“What stands out the most about Jockey are the people I work with and the environment. Jockey is so welcoming and encourages us all to be our best selves.”
Internships for credit
Did you know that Carthage students can earn course credit in their major while completing a qualifying internship? For more information, send an email to aspire@carthage.edu.
Experiential Learning Fund
The Aspire Center offers funding for students completing unpaid or underpaid internships through the Experiential Learning Fund (ELF). ELF may cover costs associated with completing an internship such as fuel or general transportation. Interested students with eligible internships are encouraged to complete a funding application form!
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