Internships

Alumni have always been strong supporters of career fairs at DePauw.  This year alumni from companies including Accretive Health, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Citizen Schools, DePauw Opportunity Through Collaboration Program, DyKnow, LLC, Noble Street Charter Schools, Uncommon Schools, Unique Home Solutions, Teach for America, Welch Packaging Group came on campus to interview students. 

Angie's List has been a strong advocate for hiring DePauw students. 

Welch Packaging, seen at right, has been another DePauw managed company that has hired many DePauw graduates.

One senior who attended the fair reported getting three immediate call backs from employers!   

Each year, about two-thirds of each graduating class seeks employment after graduation.  Career fairs have been a way for employers seeking DePauw students to easily access them for jobs and internships.  Employers report that DePauw really bucks a national trend against career fairs.  They report that DePauw students come out in large numbers and are well prepared for the experience.  Career fairs are hosted in the fall and spring.  One fair is just for graduate and professional schools and provides students with the opportunity to explore planning, application, and financial aid.   

Where would you choose to work?

The staff of the Center for Student Engagement helps students and alumni connect with employers around the globe. 

To make the pitch work you need two things: technique and courage.

The single biggest obstacle is our own fear of saying out loud what we really want in life and career.  If you don't ask for what you want, you will never get it. 

Tips for the pitch: 

Focus on the Big Five:

1.  Skills you wish to use.

2.  Issues you wish to engage.

3.  People you will engage as colleagues.

4.  People you will serve.

5.  Environment you need to thrive. 

Keep it behavioral!  Ask yourself, what does it look like when things are right?  If people can 'see' what you are seeking as you talk about it then they can help you connect with other professionals who look like you. 

Synthesize.  Be ready to share this statement in a single, clear statement like, "I want to use these skills, to work on these issues, with these people, in this environment." 

Assume the best in people.  We all love to talk about ourselves; we are proud of our work and love to talk about it; and, finally, we love to help other people.  In the pitch you are allowing people to do these three things. 

Make the ask!  Be prepared and willing to ask if this sounds like them or anyone they know.  And, most importantly, will they speak with you or introduce you. 

Coaching yourself through this simple formula and screwing up the courage to say it out loud takes you 80% of the way toward a successful job search or career change.

What is your pitch?

The staff at the Center for Student Engagement can help you craft a pitch for an internship or job. 

DePauw University has a long history with nursing.  If you have considered continuing your education with an accelerated nursing degree,  here is a perfect opportunity to explore your options!

Marian University for St.Vincent Health invites you to consider a career in nursing.  With no current wait list, GPA requirement of 2.8 (or 3.0 in last 60), and classes offered May, August and January, now may be the perfect time to look at your options!

This is a new program and four DePauw alumni have graduated with two alumni currently enrolled. 

Grant '09 participated in panel designed to provide firsthand Q&A with others who chose nursing as a second career.  He enjoys a successful career in ICU, and looking at obtaining his masters towards a career as a nurse practitioner.

Questions about nursing?  Contact:

Kris Shallenberger
Outreach Coordinator
Marian University for St.Vincent Health

Have you considered a career in health care?

The Center for Student Engagement helps students craft careers in health care. 

Paying for the commute, living expenses, the miscellanous expenses of summer such as sunscreen and vacations, and saving enough to last through the next school year are all crucial factors in the summer job or internship decision. Unpaid internships deter students and cause countless missed opportunities. DePauw now has the means in their budget to prevent those missed opportunities: the new DePauw Signature Internship Program will award $3,000 grants for unpaid summer interships and in addition several DePauw Alumni will offer paid internships (if any are unpaid the program will provide a grant), for a total of 20 internships. The program gives students three options: paid DePauw Choice Internships with companies like Angie's List and Goodwill, Local Community Building Internships such as working for the Greencastle library or hospital with the grant, and secure your own internships, also with grants awarded to ten students. No longer will the student  with a small budget but big ambitions miss out on what could be the experience that connects them to a career.

What does winter term, on campus, and medical school have in common? A highly intensive medical school and MCAT Preparation course. 

After three years as a class of 2014 student senator, I took the reigns of a DePauw student government senate committee on pre-professional school planning.  We were charged with brainstorming and researching ways in which DePauw students could better prepare themselves for professional schools and entrance exams.  An idea to bring an on campus Kaplan course to DePauw, along with my inability to afford winter term a trip abroad this year, left me with a thought.  What if we made a winter term course?
After meeting with the Dean of Experiential Learning, Raj Bellani, and the Director of Career Development, Steve Langerud, an idea became formalized into a course.  Kaplan was able to provide a group discount upwards of $400 off their course as well as train a DePauw student to be a Kaplan employee and the courses instructor.  Steve and CGPops, were able to coordinate a strength finder seminar, a lesson on personal statements, and organization to the course.  In all, we created a highly intensive and hopefully largely effective winter term course. We met a minimum of three days a week each meeting for 3 hours of intense instruction, ranging from reviewing an entire semester of physics in a single day to learning the intricacies of bodily systems.  Outside of the instruction, we had a Kaplan outline with homework that included access to over 40,000 MCAT questions, a multitude of practice tests, and review materials for every subject.
We worked in the classroom, outside of the classroom, and with each other in order to make it through a winter term course that was spanned two semesters of physics, two semesters of organic chemistry, two semesters of inorganic chemistry, four semesters of biology, and not to mention verbal reasoning.  Although winter term is over, the course meets weekly until its completion in April. With the preparation this course delivered, the MCAT isn’t so daunting, but rather another challenge that an eager student will face.

Have you considered a career in health care? 

Pre-Health advisor Ken Kirkpatrick and The Center for Student Engagement can help you plan you professional school. 

Sebastian Scott – Prospective MBA Experience

While working as a manager for Bechtel Inc. has been one of the best experiences of my life, I knew that I wanted to explore my options and work in different sectors of business. As I researched top companies and read about their executives, one thing became very clear: the large majority of men and women who run these organizations had earned their MBA. At that moment, I knew that I needed to return to school and obtain my MBA if I wanted to acquire additional knowledge, help further develop my leadership skills, and open doors for jobs at top firms.

Just like most prospective students, I started my search by looking at the top 100 ranked MBA programs in the US. Although it’s a good initial bench mark, it does not provide enough information and does not guarantee the right fit. When I was considering schools, I did extensive research on the location, the alumni network, the job placement records by region and industry, the cost of tuition, and other contributing factors towards my ROI. I was fortunate to receive acceptance letters into several top 100 programs, but after much debate I chose to attend Brandeis University in Boston because it was the right fit for me and gave me the best opportunity to succeed.

Brandeis offered me a unique educational experience that I felt was hard to match. In addition to meeting all of my requirements for an MBA program, Brandeis offered me that “Dare to Be Great” situation. Because Brandeis’ MBA program is less than twenty years old, I took it as a personal challenge to be one of their first elite alumni and be a building block towards becoming an iconic MBA program.

When selecting an MBA program, it’s vital that prospective students gather as much information as possible and find a school that is the best fit. Reaching out to administrative staff, talking to current students, and visiting the campus will all help with the decision making process. Because at the end of the day, the student is the one who is making the investment and it’s the student who is taking the leap of faith. I truly believe that picking a school that feels right is the difference between those who said that their MBA was worth every cent versus those who are impartial towards their experience. 

Are you interested in business careers?  

The Center for Student Engagement helps students seeking opportunities in graduate and professional school.  

Two weeks after I graduated from DePauw last May I hopped aboard a one-way flight to Ethiopia to begin my Peace Corps service. It wasn’t easy but I did it. Growing up I had always dreamed about being in the Peace Corps and living abroad as a volunteer. Do you like the idea of helping others, learning about a new culture, learning a new language, learning about yourself? Do you see yourself living in a remote village somewhere overseas for a few years helping to make the world a better place? If so, maybe you should consider Peace Corps.

The U.S. Peace Corps (www.peacecorps.gov) sends hundreds of U.S. citizen volunteers young and old overseas every year to work in rural communities in the developing world in many parts of the world: Africa, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe. The Peace Corps is a great way for undergraduate graduating seniors to gain international work experience without having to pay a penny and an excellent way to get your foot in the door if you are interested in a federal government career in the future. Peace Corps pays for your airfare to your country of service and back home upon your completion of service as well as complete health and dental benefits and a living allowance while you are serving abroad. Better yet, after successful completion of your service, Peace Corps provides you with a nice readjustment allowance to help you get settled back into life in the states and there are also student loan benefits.

So why did I join Peace Corps? I became interested in Peace Corps starting back when I was in high school back home in Slater, Missouri where I grew up. I got to DePauw and I knew Peace Corps was something I still wanted to do after I graduated. I love helping people and learning about new cultures and new ways of life and the possibility to learn a new language was very intriguing to me. I had some experience from my semester abroad in Chile during my junior year at DePauw teaching English that helped me get the basic experience I needed to qualify for Peace Corps service. Also, as a Spanish major I had some foreign language skills that made my application even stronger. All it takes is a want to help, some basic experience, a sense of humor and flexibility. If you have those things, I urge you to consider Peace Corps. I’ve been working in Ethiopia for over 8 months now as an English education volunteer. It isn’t always easy but I’ve learned so much for the short time I’ve been here. I’m learning Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia, I’m doing grassroots development work in my small village in southwest Ethiopia over 550km down unpaved roads from the capital, I’m meeting so many people, making lifelong friends and that’s just a few of the benefits of being in the Peace Corps. As a Peace Corps Volunteer I have the opportunity to challenge myself in ways I never knew possible, travel to places that would otherwise might not ever happen and inspire Ethiopian children to learn and practice their English and help teach Ethiopians life skills that they need to live a better and healthier life. How much better could it get?

If you are interested in learning more about my Peace Corps experience in Ethiopia check out my blog,(www.anthonynavarrete.wordpress.com), follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/villanavarrete), or message me on LinkedIn(http://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonynavarrete).

Where would you serve? 

By: Anthony Navarrete '12, Spanish major, Latin American and Caribbean studies minor.

Why study abroad for longer? 

While back on campus, my conversation with alum Chris Granger '11 (East Asian Studies major, Philosophy minor) turned to the impact of his year year-long study abroad experience at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China on his professional growth and development.  Chris worked for Americorps after graduation and now is the Assistant Director of Admission and International Student Advisor at the Art Institute of Indianapolis.  Here's what he had to say:

There's a certain amount of time you need in a foreign culture before you can even experience immersion, where the culture and place sets in and becomes part of you.  It's great to see a new place and have cool experiences, but what studying abroad really is about is helping you develop confidence, adaptability, and the ability to respong to where other people are coming from.  These are things you encounter in the real world - people will have different ways in reacting to you and the world around them.  Studying abroad is the best"extreme training ground to help prepare you to be comfortable with this.

My current employer tells us they want and need us to be extremely adaptable. As an admission advisor, I have to work with students and families from different socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and educational backgrounds.  Being abroad for a year, I had to adjust to a culture that values different things than I do and a culture that responds differently to input and advice.  A year in China, completely outside of my comfort zone, allowed me to increase my competency in this skill that I now use regularly in my work. As a result of my study abroad experience, I know I can effectively serve the people in the communities I'm working in.  

When you challenge yourself in the most extreme scenarios, you're going to be that much more prepared to do so in other situations throughout your life.  Being in China for a year, I needed more than a semester of time to get to this point.  A semester abroad gives you time to learn the lesson, but longer is needed to really live the lesson.

The Center for Student Engagement supports students in the pursuit of a professional and personal life that is filled with purpose and accomplishment. Through study abroad, internships, and civic engagement, students become better equipped to find meanfingful employment upon graduation.

Last Wednesday, February 6, the Off-Campus Study staff hosted our semi-annual Welcome Back! event for students returning from off-campus study. Fall 2012 OCS students studied and interned in locations all over the world, including Paris, Beijing, Beirut, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Cape Town, Philadelphia, Santiago, and many more. The Welcome Back! event is a chance for students to gather and share their experiences with each other, as well as consider how their OCS experience might connect to their future professional, academic, and personal goals.

This semester's event featured opportunities for small and large group discussion, a slideshow of student photographs, an art project, and a keynote address by Prof. Bob Steele, the Phyllis W. Nicholas Director of The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics and Distinguished Professor of Journalism Ethics at DePauw. Prof. Steele spoke to students about the concept of "place" in their lives and the importance of reflection, both solitary and in coversation, as they return to DePauw from their OCS experience and as they consider and take their future steps, reminding them of these words from T.S. Eliot

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring 
Will be to arrive where we started 
And know the place for the first time."

Several smaller Welcome Back! events will be held throughout the semester, including a conversation with a DePauw alum whose OCS experience has greatly influenced his life's path, a service opportunity sharing OCS stories and snacks with the residents of a local elderly care facility, and a forum where students have a chance to present independent research projects they conducted on OCS to the campus community.

How have you reflected on a transformative experience?

The staff of the Center for Student Engagement supports students before, during, and after their off-campus study experiences to help them achieve meaningful goals that circle back to enhance their DePauw education.

DePauw alumni are teaching English at the Tam Kang School in Taiwan.  The relationship founded by Professor Sherry Mou has blossomed into a vibrant post-graduate opportunity for DePauw graduates.  This year students will be working as interns at the school.

Every morning, Danielle R. Strohmeyer ’10 heads to a job where she can’t speak the native language. It isn’t a lack of knowledge or practice – she studied Chinese for four years as an undergrad, including a semester abroad in Beijing. She’s paid to speak English.

Strohmeyer is one of nine DePauw alumni teaching at Tam Kang, a private school just outside of the Taiwanese capital, Taipei. More than 23 million people occupy Taiwan, an island one-third the size of Indiana, but you’d be hard-pressed to find many other blonde, blue-eyed people there. That’s not such a bad thing in her line of work – as far as English teachers from America go, she certainly looks authentic. To her students, she brings something new and exciting to the classroom. From Strohmeyer’s point of view, so do they.

“The students can be so entertaining,” Strohmeyer says. “One little boy told me he wants to go to America because he wants to have a cheeseburger. Another one wants to go because he heard we have ‘advanced science and mathematical programs.’ He’s 10.”

Those comments sum up life at Tam Kang. Kids are still kids, but at a private school in the capital of a powerful Asian economy, cheeseburgers aren’t the only difference between here and there.

Strohmeyer’s elementary classroom at Tam Kang has two full-time teachers – one English speaker and one Taiwanese. They support each other during the day, splitting their time between teaching and grading, and sometimes stirring a student from an unscheduled nap. At the high school level, English teachers act more like tutors, helping students brush up their language skills before leaving for college.

“It’s a good job,” Strohmeyer says. “We’re paid well and our housing is provided along with insurance. And it’s a job where you feel like you’re doing meaningful work. I’m in love with the kids.”

Where would you love to live and work?  

The Center for Student Engagement works with students seeking post-graduate opportunities like teaching at Tam Kang.  

Competing in NCAA athletics offers terrific preparation for professional life.  However, it is often difficult for students to articulate what they gain from athletics.

During winter term the Center for Student Engagement offered a session to help student athletes think about how they can use their athletic experience to build a strong bridge to their professional life.

Past athletic behavior will predict future professional behavior.  What employers and internship sponsors  value about athletes as employees:

• Dedication.
• Practice.
• Goal setting.
• Risk taking.
• Teamwork.
• Feedback and coachable.
• Culture of success.

Key liberal arts skills:

• Manage a project from start to finish.
• Be an effective leader and member of a team.
• Read, understand, interpret data.

Key team skills:

• Setting goals.
• Understanding a role.
• Welcome coaching.
• Hold each other accountable.

Key professional concerns of employers:

• Can you do the job?
• Will you do the job?
• Will you embarrass me in the community?

As one student said, "The talk tonight was informative and helpful. I didn't realize that many of the daily activities as an athlete prepared me for the professional world. The most helpful aspect defining the how easily skills from swimming have prepared me for a career in science. I actually found a connection between the scientific method and a swim season. This talk definitely enabled me to more easily relate my success in swimming to what I want do in graduate school. Overall, the talk was both enlightening and encouraging."

Another student said he went back and it helped him a lot last night with his Goldwater research application.

How have your athletic experiences helped you succeed in school and work?

The staff of the Center for Student Engagement work with students to make the transition from college to career.  The workshop will be repeated during the spring semester.

Nearly 450 students and 40 faculty members are exploring other parts of the US and studying abroad.  

Students and faculty are exploring China's Triple Bottom Line

Students and faculty are exploring the geology of New Zealand (DePauw Rocks!)

Students and faculty are exploring the evolition and implementation of ideas about sustainability on the island of Hawaii.

Over 250 students are doing internships across the US and in a number of other countries.

A student is doing an internship with the Afghanistan Embassy in Tokyo.

A student is doing an internship with Barley and Birch, an organic children's clothing line started by DePauw alum Kyle Smitley.

A student is doing an internship at the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital.

Nearly 100 students are exploring topics independently with the guidance of a faculty member.

A student is writing her own children's book, which will contribute to her desire to have a career writing children's books.

A student is working on an ongoing documentary project focusing on those affected by breast cancer.

A student is exploring nutrition and global health in Uganda.

And around 900 students are on-campus engaged in an academic, intensive course.

First-Year Bonner Scholars are taking a class to explore their commitment to service, while also spending a week in Chicago engaged in a direct service project.

Students are learning to "become their own career expert" in a class led by career counselor and DePauw alum Erin Mahoney. 

Students are learning the techniques of cooking, but also the science behind it.

If you had three weeks to focus on an interest or passion, what would it be and where would you go?

You can learn more about Winter Term, as well as other ways students can engage in their own learning throughout the year by visiting the Center for Student Engagement.

"DePauw teaches you to hit metaphorical curve balls." -Ryan Foutty

Athletics is a regular topic of conversation around the Pulliam Center for Contemporary Media. DePauw has 23 Division III sports teams, quite a large number for a small liberal arts college. Students from The DePauw newspaper, WGRE radio and D3TV write about, air and broadcast "Tiger sports." Media Fellows director Dave Bohmer teaches a class on baseball history. Media Fellows students are also athletes. Ryan Foutty, a senior Media Fellow, is the No. 11-ranked college sports broadcaster in the country.

Ryan, a communications major from Aurora, Ohio, was on his way to a career in sports broadcasting. His Media Fellows international internship, at a marketing company called Threeview in Munich, Germany, threw him a curve ball.

"After spending a summer broadcasting games for a minor league baseball team, I decided to change course and consider a different career. I've always been interested in marketing and advertising, so the opportunity to work at a young, creative agency like Threeview was incredibly exciting for me. The internship offered me a ton of hands-on experience on a wide range of client projects - all of which exposed me to different aspects of the business. I now know this is definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life."

Ryan was part of WGRE's broadcast team for this year's Monon Bell football game. This week, he's off to Geneva, New York, to broadcast the women's field hockey NCAA semifinal game against Tufts. Oh, and by the way, Media Fellows sophomore Paige Henry scored the winning overtime goal in last Saturday's quarterfinal game against Middlebury!

Ryan's story is not unfamiliar among DePauw students. DePauw teaches students to think critically, explore many worlds, and learn to "hit metaphorical curve balls."

He's been called the "DePauw Sportscenter." He doesn't belong to a fraternity. He could be on the DePauw men's swim team - but he's not. He's from Seattle, WA, home of Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN and a 1954 graduate of DePauw.

Michael takes academics seriously. He has taken classes like 'Earth & the Environment,' 'The Enlightenment,' 'U.S. in the 60's' and 'Multimedia Journalism.' He is a communication major, with a minor in history. And he's a Media Fellow, one of DePauw's Honors & Fellows programs.

"The liberal arts education made me more knowledgeable about current affairs and issues in today's society," Appelgate said. "When I was assigned to write a story about a military veterans' winter sports clinic while writing for The Aspen Times, I was able to ask direct questions about the Vietnam, Korean and Iraq wars because I took U.S. history courses on them. I already studied how post-traumatic stress disorder affected thousands of soldiers after these wars, and my interviews with veterans were deep and meaningful. Without the liberal arts education, the article I produced would not have been as polished and well-reported."

He always has a pen with him. He can record audio, take photos, write stories, design pages, tweet, and record and edit video.

Michael has had real-world media experience. From his Media Fellows internship with The Aspen Times, he went directly to a summer internship with the Salt Lake Tribune. He spent his fall break covering DePauw athletics: soccer, field hockey, volleyball and football. He has been home 12 days this year. He's "living the dream" as sports editor for The DePauw student newspaper and sports director for WGRE student radio.

Follow Michael (at right with Bill Rasmussen) - and his updates on DePauw athletics - on Twitter: @mappelgate206.

Welcome back from Fall Break, world! (What's that? You thought Fall Break lasts all of fall, too?! I agree--breaks are always all too short--but that's the great thing about student life here at DePauw University: there's never a moment missable!)

Thursday, October 11, I had the incredible pleasure of meeting with Mr Bill Rasmussen, former DePauw student, a mind behind the Media Fellows Honors Program, and the Magic behind ESPN. I've got to admit: this series of 175 Years of DePauw has introduced me to some notable, notable alumni, and it's made me only prouder to be a student of the university--one from a world faraway, one International; one capable of engaging and easing with a myriad minds I'd otherwise hardly have access to. Listening to Mr Rasmussen's story, his start from the very scratch, as well as the ability to talk with him briefly while anchoring my World News section for DePauw's own news show, The Source--humbled and honoured me so: not only was Mr Rasmussen extremely patient and considerate about addressing student questions, he was so, so very down-to-earth and free with the students, mingling with them, becoming their very own. I then had the immense pleasure of talking with him again during my TV Production class, whereby we discussed Film Criticism a bit--and I was again raptured by just how willing and warm Mr Rasmussen was, awarding and aiding me in the time and inspiration I sought. It's these sorts of things--meeting marked minds, and yet finding them so very easy and humbling to be around--that has me awed and incredibly grateful to be here at DePauw!

He'll be here in another couple of weeks, so be sure to watch out for him if you're at DePauw, and if not--throw me a question you'd like to ask him!

(Oh, and do watch The Source, folks! World News is always good to be worded on. :) )

My winter term in Zimbabwe came to a nice close. I finished my Independent Study Project in the nick of time. I had the oportunity to develop a computer program for a rural hospital in my hometown. My goal was to prototype an application that keeps track of patient records. My Computer Science adviser was very supportive and even though I was thousands of miles away from him, we always communicated every week via email.

I also had a wonderful time at home, re-connecting with family and friends. Returning home after more than a year was obviously refreshing. It was nice to see how things have changed, re-uniting with old friends and celebrating Christmas with my family. As I returned to campus, I was welcomed by DePauwcalypse, a snow storm that culminated in 2 snow days. I used this free time to decorate my new room since I have just started working as a First Year Resident Assistant for Bishop Roberts Hall. It is a great experience. I get to meet new people, take up a lot of responsibilities, and help maintain DePauw's community standards and university policies.

Last weekend, the The World Association of Music Instruments and Dance (WAMIDAN) hosted a "World Jamz" party aimed at promoting the appreciation of world music and culture. They played music from around the world and there was a variety of cultural food from all over the world. As spring semester begins, I'm looking forward to a wonderful semester filled with new opportunities and more fun times at DePauw University. If you were to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Sorry for not have kept you updated for my internship experience. The job actually turned to be very busy for the last three weeks. Cleveland got three major snows during my last half month there, and my assignments from Mark and David piled up that I had to work until 9:00pm everyday. 

Now, sitting in my couch with a cup of milk tea made by my friend, I feel so relaxed and happy to be back on campus. I have to admit that the internship experience was intense. I made a lot of mistakes, but thanks to my colleagues' helps that I did gain many valuable lessons. Mark set with me one day for a lunch, and he pointed out that my biggest problem was that I did not ask questions. Many beginners are afraid to ask questions when they do not really understand what and how they are doing, mainly because they do feel their lack of knowledge may make people think they are not well qualified for the job. In fact, the truth is that the silence itself make the beginners waste their time and learn nothing new. Many conversations with Mark truly made me a more aggressive person in arguing my position and more confident in communicating with others. This should be the most important I've learned from this DePauw University winter term experience.

Back to school, we had a small party for Sammi, one of my best friends who's withdrawing from the school for one year to study abroad in Korea. She decided to withdraw (not exchange) from college for her study abroad program because she want more flexible schedule and wider course range covered by a program which DePauw currently does not offer. However, as one of the best Liberal Arts Colleges in the States, DePauw values students' individual pursue. Sammi will get credits from the college for the courses she will be taking in Korea when she's back.

A new semester's ahead! Chilax and stay warm!

On Friday night President Casey, a few professors, about 11 students, and I went downtown to a restaurant to have a dinner reception with Tim Solso, his wife and several other business leaders from Cummins. Tim Solso is a 1969 graduate of DePauw, on our board of trustees, and CEO and Chairman of Cummins Inc.

Cummins is the company I interned with in India for a semester, over this past summer, and where I will be going after graduation to work full time. The reception was for all of those who have been involved and are interested in being involved in a special relationship between Cummins and DePauw. This special relationship between a University and Fortune 500 corporation is unique.

Essentially, the relationship has two reciprocating parts. First, Cummins provides internship opportunities for students at their India locations and in the US. The other side is that DePauw recruits future students from among the children of employees at Cummins locations in India. The program is built upon the fact that both organizations have a strong commitment to diversity.

The relationship started several years ago, and Tim and his wife wanted to have this reception to celebrate the program's progress. As one of the first interns to participate in the internship portion of the program and a future employee of Cummins, the reception was extra special for me. This was truly an extraordinary networking opportunity and really highlights the special opportunities available at DePauw.

~BB
 

This past Saturday was the annual International Bazaar. One of the things DePauw prides itself on is being a truly global campus. This means both having one of the highest study abroad participation rates among small liberal arts colleges and having an ever increasing number of international students. In order to engage in intellectual thought/discussion in today's world, you have to have a classroom made of diverse people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

The International Bazaar is event that celebrates DePauw's cultural diversity though food, dance, music, story telling and more. This year more than 30 countries, from which DePauw students hail were represented through over 50 food dishes and dozens of cultural performances.

I had been looking forward to this event all week and let me tell you, it was totally worth it. I tried all sorts of great ethnic foods and saw some great performances by our students from all over the world. Below is a picture of my girlfriend, Meredith, and I, taken just outside the International Bazaar while we were standing in line. I decided to wear a sherwani I got while completing an internship in India last fall. More pictures from the International Bazaar are available by clicking here.




~BB
 

Hey All!  Wow, it seems like I have taken an extra long fall break from blogging!  School has really picked up recently.  I'm only in class Monday-Thursday, but with that comes a lot of really dense reading that isn't spread out throughout the week (leaving me to cram on some days...ugh).
The middle of October was fall break.  I'm not going to lie, it was really nice to go home.  I usually consider DePauw my "home", but it was a nice change of pace to see my family and hang out with some friends at Northwestern.  Over break I saw Lagniappe/Potpourri, a play I used to be in at my high school, and I started interviewing for Winter Term internships.  Winter Term at DePauw is over the month of January and students have several options on how to spend their time.  They can take a class on campus, intern at a company of their choice, study abroad with a group (students + professors), or complete an independent study.  Over the past three WT's I have taken one class, had an internship downtown Chicago and studied abroad in Ireland (but I went for the full semester, not just 3.5 weeks).  I interviewed at a few companies for a January internship...and I just found out I was hired by one of the companies!!  I'm super excited and happy that I will be living at home (aka saving money).
When students got back from fall break, it was the first week first year students were allowed on Greek (fraternity/sorority) property for registered parties.  I know a lot of first year students, prior to coming to DePauw, were really worried about not being "allowed" on Greek property for the first half of the semester.  But let me assure you, DePauw has your best interests in mind.  Not only is it a safety issue, but it is so nice to get to know your own class before you are thrust into meeting upperclassmen.  And hey, I made some of my best friends my first year without going to fraternity and sorority parties...  But now that all students are allowed on Greek property, last weekend was SO fun (not to mention is was Halloween).  While it may have been overly crowded, it was great to start meeting first year students.  
This upcoming weekend should be fun.  My parents are coming to visit on Saturday to celebrate Alpha Phi's Dad's Day.  We will be tailgating in the morning, going to the football game at 1:00pm (did you hear that DPU beat Trinity two weeks ago?!?! That was a BIG win for the Tigers!!), and I will be dancing at half time for the poms team.  I'm very excited to have my parents here because they have never seen me dance on a dance team before :)

Alright, that's all for now.  Look for a blog next week about the pre-Monon festivities (fundraisers, pep rallys, rugby games and concerts). GET EXCITED! GO TIGERS!

Lizzy