Close-Knit Westminster Network Helps Students Secure Internships and Achieve Their Potential

Last summer, Westminster students traveled around the globe for immersive internship experiences that involved everything from scaling volcanic formations in the Canary Islands to securing exhibits on walls at a multidisciplinary museum in Illinois.

In nearly all of the internships — experiential learning opportunities for which Westminster is renowned — faculty members or alumni from the College’s close-knit community played an active role in helping students secure their once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Read further to learn more about just a few of the WestMO dynamos who delved deep into their career interests to emerge with newfound confidence in their chosen field of study.

Daniel Backer, Class of 2025
Finteris Wealth Management Intern, Jefferson City, Missouri
Majors: Business Administration and Financial Planning
Hometown: Fulton, Missouri
Internship Secured Through: Brock Ayers ’82, Riley Zack ’19, and Career Development Counselor and Coordinator Stacie Gove-Ortmeyer (resume assistance)

“This internship gave me a clear vision for my post-graduation career. I can now plan my career path more confidently, focusing on jobs that will help me achieve my goal of becoming a financial advisor. Having a mentor in the field was invaluable, offering insights and answers to questions I wouldn’t have known to ask.”

Faith Beckmann, Class of 2026
Peoria Riverfront Museum Curatorial Intern, Peoria, Illinois
Majors: History and Museum Studies
Hometown: St. Peters, Missouri
Internship Secured Through: Jeffrey Owens ’87 and Dr. Nichol Allen

“There were a lot of different parts of the internship that I enjoyed, but one of the biggest was the environment at the museum. Even just sitting in the curatorial office, I would learn so much from what was going on around me as the employees went about their days. Everyone was also just so nice and welcoming; it was a fantastic environment to learn in. This internship cemented the feeling that I am definitely going into the correct field for me.”

Ayanda Huate, Class of 2024 (December)
Biomedical informatics and Data Science Intern, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
Majors: One Health and Mathematical Data Science
Hometown: Maputo, Mozambique

“I learned a lot of new data science and bioinformatics skills, how to collaborate, and how a biomedical informatics research lab operates. The internship really did reaffirm to me that I want the next step in my life to be graduate school in the field of health and biomedical informatics.”

Vi Lowe, Class of 2027
Peoria Riverfront Museum Curatorial Intern, Peoria, Illinois
Majors: Environmental Geology and Museum Studies
Hometown: Fulton, Missouri
Internship Secured Through: Jeffrey Owens ’87 and Dr. Nichol Allen

“My internship has only solidified my feelings about wanting to pursue a career in the museum field. … This was a paid internship, but if I was offered a similar experience without payment, I would still take it. It was an extremely valuable opportunity, and I have learned so much about how museums operate and how collections are managed by curators. Though it was work, it was very fun, and it reassures me for my future prospects. I’d rather do a job that makes me happy and not make a ton of money than work in an industry I don’t enjoy and make millions. I’d intern with the Peoria Riverfront Museum again in a heartbeat, payment or no payment.”

Clement Mahoro, Class of 2025
GQG Partners Summer Analyst, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Majors: Finance and Data Science
Hometown: Originally from Rwanda but family now lives in Fulton, Missouri
Internship Secured Through: Brock Ayers ’82 and Steve Ford ’01

“I came across this opportunity through alumnus Brock Ayers, who knew Steve Ford, a Westminster alum and former Blue Blazers Investment Committee member that works for GQG Partners. I felt like I learned so much just by being in a professional environment, but also because my work was being used for major decisions. I enjoyed what I did, and I see myself doing it long term.”

Madison Scott, Class of 2025
GeoTenerife Volcano Camp Intern, Canary Islands
Major: Environmental Science with a Geology Emphasis
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Internship Secured Through: Dr. Gabe McNett, Dr. David Schmidt, as well as John Tosi ’79 and other Westminster faculty members who contributed to Scott’s internship GoFundMe

“During the internship, we engaged in real-world tasks that a volcanologist or hydrologist would handle, guided by experts, including a petrologist from Durham University specializing in pyroclastic flows. We also met PhD students and a professor from Oxford University, along with local seismologists. By the end, my team and I had written a 33-page paper and a 25-page civil report analyzing the volcanic history of the island. Through this experience, I realized that there’s nothing I can’t achieve if I put my mind to it.”

For information on internships offered through Westminster’s Office of Career Development, please contact Stacie.Gove-Ortmeyer@WCMO.edu. Alumni interested in connecting Westminster students with internships should contact Shelby.Rufkahr@WCMO.edu.