Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
August 13, 2004 Purdue places more interns for Indiana thanks to Lilly EndowmentWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University software development major Andrew L. Robinson III enjoyed his summer internship with Griffin Analytical Technologies in West Lafayette so much that he said he will return this fall as an intern. Robinson, a senior from Indianapolis who honed his skills as a computer programmer at Griffin, will be one of approximately 27 Purdue students who will work 100-150 hours during the fall semester in exchange for a class credit and a $1,500 stipend from Purdue's Lilly Interns for Indiana program. Supported by a $3.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., approximately 27 startup companies are expected to place interns through Purdue.
An information session for company representatives who would like to find out more about acquiring an intern will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 19) in the large conference room at the Purdue Research Park, 3000 Kent Ave., West Lafayette. Companies who would like Purdue to place an intern should apply by Aug. 27. The application deadline for students is Sept. 8. Applications are available from the Discovery Learning Center Web site or by calling Kimberly Tobiason, intern placement coordinator for Purdue's Discovery Learning Center, at (765) 496-1830. Purdue University North Central, Purdue University Calumet and Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne also will place student interns with local companies. Tobiason said the summer intern pilot program, which recently concluded, received rave reviews. "The students I've talked to are very happy," Tobiason said. "Companies seem pleased also. The students have gotten really involved in projects. It's been intense and fulfilling on both sides." Robinson said he has gained invaluable experience outside of the classroom. "This has been a great opportunity," Robinson said. "I have learned so much at Griffin. Nothing compensates for real-world experience and, hopefully, I'll be able to contribute even more during the fall semester." While some of the students with summer internships worked in Indianapolis at Allegiant Technology Group, Progeny and INRANGE Consulting, many of the interns this fall will join Robinson by working in the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette so they can continue to take classes. The fields in which they will intern call for students with a wide variety of skills, including computer programming, Web design, marketing, human resources, management, technical writing, foreign language translation and even aerospace engineering. Tobiason said that in addition to the direct work experience, Purdue offers the interns workshops to prepare them for their future careers. "They cover issues a new professional might face, such as how to market yourself for a full-time position and professionalism in a new workplace." Tobiason said the ultimate goal is to support the state economy by putting a plug in the brain drain. "We want to support companies and help them grow by providing them with high-performing Purdue students," Tobiason said. "We also want students from diverse disciplines working with the companies in hopes that many might find permanent employment or gain the skills necessary to launch their own companies in Indiana." Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu Sources: Kimberly Tobiason. (765) 496-1830, kstobias@purdue.edu Andrew Robinson, (765) 775-1701, robinsal@purdue.edu Related Web sites: Lilly Interns for Indiana Program Griffin Analytical Technologies PHOTO CAPTION: Purdue University software development major Andrew Robinson III will serve a second internship with Griffin Analytical Technologies this fall. Robinson's placement will be one of approximately 27 internships at the Purdue Research Park. The internships are arranged through the Lilly Interns for Indiana program, which is administered through Purdue's Discovery Learning Center. A $3.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. supports the program. (Purdue News Service photo/Mark Simons) A publication-quality photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2004/robinson-intern.jpg.
|
