Also this month:
* NC
A&T Project to Improve Food Stamp Nutrition
* Tailored
Information Best for Farm Safety
* NC A&T
Specialist Advises on Child Care Options for Infants
* NC
A&T and Guilford County Extension Team for Small Farm Day
* NC A&T
Hosts USDA Scholars
* NC
A&T Department Faculty at National Conference
Other News Links:
Press Release Archive
Cooperative Extension
Press Releases
Agricultural Research
Press Releases
General Links:
NC A&T School of Agriculture
Agricultural Communications
Mitch Arnold, news editor
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Greensboro, NC: Working in a variety of settings,
from major national chain stores to small, one-person shops, students in
a unique internship program coordinated by the North Carolina A&T State
University School of Agriculture spent the summer learning what it takes
to make the cash register ring.
Five fashion merchandising and design seniors in the NC A&T Department
of Human Environment and Family Sciences are the first to complete their
internships in a project entitled, "Internship Success: Student Professional
Development and Career Placement."
The project is directed by Dr. Carolyn Turner, associate professor, and
also involves the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University. Jane Walker, an instructor
in the department, developed and taught the first class leading to the
internships coordinated by the program.
According to Turner, the project is directed toward developing a model
internship program which will enhance experiential learning, assist in
job placement, and improve minority presence in the food and family sciences.
The program will then to be shared with other universities.
"Through student and employer feedback, we learned that students could
be better prepared for their internships," said Turner. "We wanted
to improve their internship opportunities by creating a systematic way
to provide experiential learning."
To do this, A&T Department of Human Environment and Family Sciences
faculty have begun incorporating internship preparation in the curriculum,
starting in the freshman year. This is done through modules teaching students
how to research and pursue internships, and through assignment components,
such as information interviews and professional observation.
Another goal of the project is to develop tools students can use to prepare
themselves for internships. Among these tools are manuals for both the
intern and the cooperating supervisor, and Web-based databases containing
such features as company information, testimonials from past interns and
interactive interest tests.
Evaluations provided by recent graduates will help project faculty fine-tune
their efforts.
The five students who completed their internships through this program
this summer include:
- Kara Bennett of Washington, DC. Bennett worked at Belk in Greensboro,
where she helped make floor merchandise decisions, worked with floor displays
and created a promotional program for employees. Bennett continues to work
with Belk and hopes to become a buyer or fashion consultant.
- Sara McClendon of Monroe. McClendon worked at Judy's Sewtique
in High Point, where she altered clothing, reconstructed garments, and
helped with the business's advertising and marketing. McClendon plans to
continue her education and seek a career in textile research and design.
- Talita Briley of High Point. Briley worked with Southern Accent
Florist in High Point, where she learned about the management and marketing
aspects of running a small business. Briley plans a career as a fashion
buyer.
- Crystal C. Baldwin of Wilmington. Baldwin worked at Sears in
Greensboro, where she spent time in a number of departments learning various
sales and management techniques. Baldwin plans a career in product development.
- Damon Wade of Winston-Salem. Wade worked at Dillard's
in Winston-Salem, as a retail management and merchandising trainee. Wade
plans a career in retail merchandising or apparel design.
"Through the program, each student was able to select an internship
which met their goals," said Walker. "The feedback we've received
from both the students and the cooperating companies has been positive."
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For more information, please contact Dr. Carolyn Turner, NC A&T Department
of Human Environment and Family Sciences, (336) 334-7692.
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