StudentAug 31, 2018University News
By: Anastasia McClendon ’20, student correspondent

Students Get Royal Internship Experience

University of Scranton students participate in the Royal Experience Summer Internship Program.
Catherine Stapf, Warrington, was among the 11 University of Scranton students awarded a stipend through The Royal Experience Summer Internship Program in 2018. A neuroscience and philosophy double major, Stapf interned at the University’s biopsychology laboratory.
Catherine Stapf, Warrington, was among the 11 University of Scranton students awarded a stipend through The Royal Experience Summer Internship Program in 2018. A neuroscience and philosophy double major, Stapf interned at the University’s biopsychology laboratory.

 

For many, the summer is a time for “vacation and relaxation.” However, for Jordan Oakey, a liberal studies major at Scranton, this summer was a chance to “gain as much knowledge about the art world as possible.”

Oakey, an intern at the Everhart Museum of Natural History and Art in Scranton was among the 11 University of Scranton students awarded a stipend through The Royal Experience Summer Internship Program. The program seeks to reduce the financial barriers that could prevent students from gaining important knowledge and experience through unpaid summer internships.

“Working in a museum has so greatly expanded my knowledge about local art and what goes on behind the scenes; that is, what happens behind those white gallery walls in order to create an exhibition that would catch the interest of the public, no matter their age,” Oakey wrote in his blog post.

As an intern, Oakey transferred information about the museum’s art collection from notecards to a computer database called Past Perfect. The collection reached more than 6,000 items, with information recorded not only on notecards, but also in email correspondences, handwritten letters and typed thank you cards for pieces donated.

“This experience, so far, has given much more insight as to what happens in a museum when its doors are closed to the public,” Oakey wrote.

Tate Ackerman, a biology, Spanish and philosophy triple major, also participated in The Royal Experience Program. She accepted the intern position in the University’s Biology Department, where she surveyed bats and learned about advancements in echolocation technology.

“I have always enjoyed working with animals, but I never thought that I would have the opportunity to gain the specific and unique skill set required for tracking down and recording the echolocation calls of such small and evasive animals,” Ackerman wrote in her blog post.

Through The Royal Experience Summer Internship Program, students are able to get ahead in their career paths without falling behind financially.

“The cultivation of my bat-finding techniques will be invaluable for me in the future, as I plan to pursue a career in animal research. The Royal Experience Internship Program has provided me with an opportunity to diversify my skills and gain practical, hands-on experience for my future career goals,” Ackerman wrote.

The other participants were encouraged to write about their experiences over the summer on the career development blog as well.

 

Anastasia McClendon ’20, Chinchilla, is an English major at The University of Scranton.
Anastasia McClendon ’20, Chinchilla, is an English major at The University of Scranton.
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