Austin is a Nonprofit and NGO Studies major at Northern Illinois University with a minor in Marketing. He serves as an intern with Adventure Works as part of the Internship Program.

Q: What project(s) are you working on as an intern?

Austin: I’ve been working on volunteer management & coordination, other small projects such as updating filing, organizing closet space, watering outdoor plants when volunteers can’t. I really enjoy and have a knack for communicating and working with volunteers, the experience that comes with volunteer coordination is great especially since we don’t use many volunteers here at AW and it’s pretty small scale. Starting with only a few volunteers has really helped me understand what goes into a position like this and is making me think about how it would be with many more volunteers.

Q: What is the biggest benefit and/or the best part of your internship experience?

Austin: My favorite part of this internship is getting to know everybody that works here and really learning about the organization and how a nonprofit like this is run day-to-day. One of the biggest benefits is gaining real work experience in this field, especially with a position that so many nonprofits have and understanding the culture of how things work in the nonprofit sector.

Q: In your opinion, why should students pursue internship opportunities?

Austin: They offer incredible experience in understanding how an organization works and helps us apply the knowledge that we are gaining in the classroom in real world situations. They also look great on a resume.

Q: Please share any additional comments you have about your internship experience. 

Austin: Thank you so much to the Roberts Family Foundation for making these internships possible, you guys are doing great things and are offering experience to so many young workers that would not be given this opportunity without the help from you.

The Internship Program is a collaboration between the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies, and Career Services at Northern Illinois University, supported by the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation.