College Internship Program Launched at MMSC

On June 17th, a group of representatives from Lexington, KY-area colleges and universities met at the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center to discuss the formation of an internship program at MMSC.

            The internship program is the brainchild of assistant stable manager and education program coordinator, Natalie Voss. Voss, an animal sciences junior at the University of Kentucky, became the Center’s first intern in the spring semester of this year before being hired as educational programs coordinator. 

            “I learned so much as an intern at the MMSC that I thought it would be great to make such an experience available to a wide range of students in the area,” said Voss.

            Susanna Thomas, director of the MMSC encouraged Voss to “make it happen.”  “I thought that Natalie would learn a lot by setting up and running the meeting.  She gave a seamless professional presentation and the participants were enthusiastic about the possibilities,” said Thomas.  “I am excited to see how Natalie is going to bring this program to fruition.”

            Participants included Dr. Coleman, professor of animal sciences at the University of Kentucky, Holly James of Career Services at Georgetown College, Kammy McCleery, coordinator of student employment and experiential education at Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Deborah James, director of career services at Centre College, Melanie Noble and Nicole Keenan of Asbury College’s career center, Mary Raider of Eastern Kentucky University’s career services, as well as Connie Dirks and Gladys Johnson of EKU’s Applied Learning Program. The college representatives plan to aid the MMSC in the development of three types of internships for undergraduates: an equine management/training internship, an equine business/communications internship, and a farm management internship. Each of the participating universities will promote the internships on their website beginning in the fall semester and will select their highest achieving students for the positions.

              Voss’ next efforts will be fundraising to be able to give the students gas stipends which will make the internships feasible for students of any economic bracket.  If you are interested in supporting this effort, please make a donation to the TRF and designate on the memo line that you would like this to go to the MMSC internship program.