University Communications and Marketing

MSUB students garner valuable experience with internships

Contacts:

Rhianna H. Tretin, internship coordinator, 657-1717

University Relations, 657-2266

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — Leonie Gelfarth won’t be spending her summer fetching coffee as an intern for Big Sky State Games. Instead, the Montana State University Billings marketing and management major is tasked with updating and designing promotional publications for the non-profit.

In addition to the annual Olympic-style amateur sporting festival, the organization provides other opportunities for engagement with programs like the Heart and Sole Race, Montana Mile, Fit Kids Club and Shape Up Montana, to name a few.

“I’m making fliers in Photoshop and utilizing a lot of digital marketing and everything uses digital marketing,” Gelfarth said. “I’m getting to see what goes into the planning and implementation. It’s very hands on.”

Jasmine Ness, also a marketing major, agrees. She is spending her summer internship with the organization drafting press releases and managing its social media presence.

“This is really a practice run for what I’ll be doing and I love it,” Ness said. “It’s a real life experience and I’m also getting to network with other people and businesses.”

Big Sky State Games Executive Director Karen Sanford Gall said the group has enjoyed giving MSUB students paid internships for several decades.

“We want them to have a real world experience and tell them they are doing important duties,” she said. “We have high expectations and they leave here with accomplishments and skills they can proudly put on their resume.”

Frequently, interns become employees, Gall said.

Through the 2015-2016 school year, 245 internships were completed by MSU Billings students and 101 of them were paid. Additionally, 105 students were offered employment as a result of their internships.

Of the internships that provided compensation, the average salary was $13.80.

For more information about internships at MSUB click here.