By Katie Land, news editor
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| Junior Tiffany Yarnall built up her resume at the Student Business Services through the Campus Corps. |
The start of the fall semester signals the close of the well-received pilot program, the Summer Student Campus Corps. The innovative program drew an overwhelmingly positive response from student participants and staff advisors.
The trial initiative placed undergraduate students in internship-style jobs on campus from April to August, each earning up to $10 an hour or a maximum of $7,200 over 18 weeks.
Created to address a growing need for summer work in the current economic downturn, the corps provided 86 students with a competitive income and marketable work experience, according to Cindy Hermsen, director of financial aid.
Projects included a variety of longstanding infrastructure projects in areas such as information technology, grounds and landscaping, recreation and administrative offices. The projects were all outside the scope of positions traditionally offered by the hiring department, and all of the positions were temporary.
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| Theatre major Denver Surgener was able to continue working over the summer through corps funding. |
Junior Tiffany Yarnall hopes that her corps experience in Student Business Services will help her find a job after graduation. With a major in management information systems and a minor in finance, Yarnall learned new skills and applied her classroom knowledge to a real-world scenario.
“It has been an excellent experience,” Yarnall said. “I had the opportunity to use much of the information I’ve learned in business classes while learning many useful business skills, such as how to write business e-mails, business meeting etiquette, time management and multi-tasking.”
Without the corps, Yarnall said she would probably be working at a retail job this summer, something that would not yield the same type of far-reaching benefits.
“I would definitely put this job on my resume,” she said. “It is very applicable to my major and to business in general, and I have learned many valuable skills that make me believe it would be of interest to a potential employer.”
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| Senior Ryan Mostiller picked up professional skills while completing high-quality projects at his job. |
Theatre performance major Denver Surgener found his perfect fit as an inventory specialist in the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance. He spent the summer cleaning, organizing and resizing Oakland’s Costume Shop. Unused items were donated to a high school theater program in Detroit.
Surgener worked in the costume shop throughout the school year as well, and was able to continue into the summer through the corps funding.
“The best part about the corps was the opportunity it gave me to continue working throughout the summer, doing something I love and being able to support myself,” Surgener said. “It's a wonderful opportunity for students to be able to make money and hopefully do something they enjoy.”
The senior plans to move to Texas after graduation and will bring this experience with him. “I would definitely put this job on my resume because it shows that I'm dedicated and willing to work hard at something I care about. Plus, my boss will give me a great reference.”
As an information systems intern, Ryan Mostiller spent his summer working on computer and Internet-related projects for Disability Support Services, the Advising Resource Center and the Graham Health Center. He said the corps has been a great learning experience.
“I have learned a lot about being professional and about working with clients,” Mostiller said. “I have had to manage my time well because of the number of projects I was working on for the entire summer. I have learned a lot about working in a professional atmosphere.”
The Information Technology senior completed multiple projects that he plans to show to potential employers. The job was treated as a professional position, and Mostiller treats it as such.
“The best part was the experience I had working with several different departments at once,” he said. “I learned that each department works in different styles and I was happy to be doing projects that required me to put a lot of work and effort into.”
For more information about the Summer Student Campus Corps, contact the Financial Aid Office at (248) 370-2550 or
finaid@oakland.edu.
