A Reflection Series of Summer Internships, Part 2 

Written by Mandy Plybon, Assistant Director/Internship Coordinator, Center for Career Development 

Mandy Plybon, Assistant Director of the Center for Career Development and Internship Coordinator, has spent part of her summer visiting with Westminster students who are working through summer internships.  The first article in her three-part series gave insight into those interning in Jefferson City, Missouri. For Part 2, Mandy visited three student interns in St. Louis, Missouri. Here is a summary of their experiences. 

Mackenzie Myers ‘20, a Sports Management major, has an internship with Vetta Sports located in Manchester, Missouri. She is responsible for soccer club registrations including handling payments, marketing sessions, and customer relations. During her time with Vetta Sports, Mackenzie has learned how to properly run an adult outdoor soccer league. She remarks that her time at Westminster, particularly in communicating and building relationships with faculty, has helped her create a positive personal work ethic, which has pushed her to work hard and have the desire to succeed in her internship. A highlight for Mackenzie has been the feeling of accomplishment when looking at the work she does and the professional skills she has developed.  

“My internship gave me the opportunity to put what I’ve learned in the classroom into real world situations. It also helped me expand my knowledge of the sports management field, specifically in sports league management.” – Mackenzie Myers, class of 2020   

Riley Zack ‘19, a Finance and Sports Entertainment Management major, is interning at Wells Fargo Advisors in Chesterfield, Missouri. Between stock research, cost basis analysis, shadowing client meetings, and attending various networking activities, Riley has learned what it takes to work in the financial advising industry. A highlight of his internship so far has been the opportunity to develop connections with industry professionals. Riley says his participation in the Blue Blazers Investment Committee and Dr. Phelps’ spreadsheets class have helped him perform his duties at Wells Fargo.    

 Ryan Clavin ‘20, a Business Communications major, is interning with Center St. Louis in Affton, Missouri. A highlight of Ryan’s internship has been the leadership skills he has developed through his role as Sports Camp Coordinator. Three professional skills he notes are important for his position are the ability to manage time well, ability to communicate, and the ability to work as a team. Ryan’s coursework at Westminster has encouraged a natural leadership approach and helped him gain confidence in communicating with a variety of customer groups.       

 “Being able to see and use what you learn in the classroom in a real-world environment is a very rewarding experience.” – Ryan Clavin, class of 2020 

  When Mandy met with the site supervisors to receive their feedback on Westminster’s Internship Program, all three supervisors identified the same three qualities when considering a potential intern. They are previous work/volunteer experience, communication skills, and how a student presents themselves in an interview. Each supervisor felt very satisfied with the quality of Westminster interns.  

 Westminster’s Center for Career Development is committed to engaging, preparing, and empowering students to succeed in today’s highly competitive and ever-changing global community. Staff are available to help students discover a career path, develop resume writing skills, interview skills, and more.

To learn more about internships, contact Mandy Plybon at mandy.plybon@westminster-mo.edu or 573-592-5382. 

 More information for students on Westminster’s internship program can be found here. 

 Employers wishing to offer an internship can find out how here.