Sep 02, 2020

Summer internships help UNI students prepare for their dream jobs

Alex Crum, a graduate student in the University of Northern Iowa master’s of athletic training program, landed a dream internship this summer with the Indianapolis Colts.

“It’s 100% time-consuming, but I go into every day in awe and grateful for the opportunity to work with an NFL team and possibly set myself up for a career later in life with a professional team,” Crum said. “Even if that never happens I don’t think I’ll ever forget the memories I’ll make. It's an all-time great experience.

Crum started his internship in June and will continue through the start of training camp and into September. In his position, he works side-by-side with the Colts’ athletic training staff, getting hands-on experience taking previously-injured players through rehabilitation treatments both on the massage table and in the weightroom.

UNI’s athletic training program was the first accredited master’s program in the state, and Crum is part of the program’s second cohort. Job placement and graduation rates of the program is near 100%, said Kelli Snyder, the athletic training program director, and Crum is far from the first student to get hands-on experience in their desired field.

While COVID-19 disrupted summer internship plans for students across the country, Panthers continued gaining experience even if it was through a virtual format. Waterloo native Hannah Smith, a senior drama and theatre for youth major, was selected for a summer teaching internship at The Rose Theater in Omaha. She co-taught classes remotely, finding creative ways to keep her students engaged.

“This internship is such a resume builder, and UNI’s theatre department has prepared me so heavily for everything I'm going to do,” said Smith. “UNI truly is setting me up for success after graduation.”