Name: Benard Onyango

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Pennsylvania General Energy | Title of Your Position: Software Developer

Major(s)/Minor(s): Information Systems

Expected Graduation Year: Master Student, May 2015

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service-learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I interned at Pennsylvania general Energy as Software Developer. It is such a nice place to work. I particularly enjoyed the friendliness of my fellow programmers. They were very helping in answering any questions that I needed answered. My daily routine began with programming in ASP.NET(C#) using MVC framework.My first assignment was to create of an app for the PGE legal department. In addition, I was also I asked to help with the completion of a web based application which was about 80 % done. Despite some challenges, I really enjoyed my internship. I gained a wealth of knowledge from it.

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

A friend of mine told me that there was a position open for software developer intern. I immediately went online to learn something about the company. While I was waiting to hear from them, I spent some time reading about some of the requirements(technologies) for the job that were not very familiar to me. This was very helpful on the day of the interview. Something I would like to mention is that they were asking for 1.5 years of experience to be hired. Even though I did not have that much experience, I did not shy away from applying.

Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?

Network

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

The Employees at PGE were very friendly especially the programming team and my supervisor. They made sure I did the work. However, they were very kind in answering any questions that I may have had.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

By working on real, hands-on project, I was able to gain in the following technologies. - ASP.NET MVC 4 and 5 Framework - Visual Studio 2012 IDE, Entity Framework 5 with Migrations - HTML5, CSS, JavaScript (JQuery and Ajax), GIT Repository Secondly, I build good professional networks that may become relevant especially in my job hunt after graduation.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice would be to make sure you distribute copies of your resume to people. You never know when an opportunity may become available.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

This internship brought the best out me! It taught me that all I needed was an opportunity and a challenge, to fully comprehend my capabilities.

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!

12-week paid summer internship will be from May 18th to August 7th 2015, with the grant covering the costs of return travel to and from Charleston, dormitory housing with the College of Charleston, a $4,500 stipend and any associated individual intern research project costs (up to $500 per student). Each intern will receiving expert training in the key professional skills needed to pursue graduate school and/or a career in the marine and environmental science disciplines, design and complete an individual research project under the guidance of their mentor(s), and will present their findings to their peers and the Fort Johnson research community at the end of the program in a one-day colloquium setting.

DUE DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH

During the last week, multiple internship positions have been posted to UMBCworks. Check out these new positions today!
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Foreign Policy Intern(9272221)
The British Embassy - Washington, District of Columbia

This summer internship offers the opportunity to work for the British Embassy, Washington’s Foreign & Security Policy Group (FSPG). The successful applicant will conduct research in support of FSPG’s strategic and policy work, providing analysis to FSPG’s Political Counselors and the wider embassy.

Graphic Artist & Animation Creator(9272217)
PaRaBaL Inc. - UMBC Research Park, Maryland

Innovative Tech Company located in UMBC Research Park is seeking a Graphic Artist/Animator to create a specific video for the company’s web site. The project would be a paid internship for the Graphic arts major. This position is a project-based position to create one video PaRaBaL’s mission is to help organizations achieve better productivity through mobile technologies.

Spring 2015- Interactive Services Intern (9272157)
Maryland Office of Tourism, Film and the Arts - Baltimore, Maryland

Expected projects and duties will involve Digital Asset & Resource Management. Resource management will include facilitating acquisition and management of digital assets. Utilizing a Digital Asset Management system, this team member will manage the inventory and classifications of digital assets and other materials associated with the Maryland Office of Tourism Development (OTD) and Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts (TFA.)

Summer 2015 Discovery INternship(9272133)
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Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s #1 pay-TV programmer reaching 2.7 billion cumulative subscribers in more than 220 countries and territories.

Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content on worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery and Science, as well as U.S. joint venture network OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. Discovery also controls Eurosport International, a premier sports entertainment group, and more!

Summer Copywriter intern (paid position) (9272040)
Merkle Inc. - Columbua, Maryland

As a Copywriter Intern for Merkle, you will work as part of the Creative Department to help create real-life marketing campaigns for large brand name clients like MetLife, AARP, PNC Bank and others. You will be mentored by a senior creative and given the opportunity to contribute to the development of actual marketing campaigns.

Spring 2015- Grant and Program Intern (9272012)
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The intern will be responsible for managing grant applications and received grants. Responsibilities will include event planning, maintaining website and social media, community organizing and assisting with the developing and implementing the master strategic plan.

Summer 2015- Creative and Performance Arts Intern (9272014)
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore - Baltimore, Maryland

The Education Department at The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore offers spring, summer and fall internship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students working toward a degree in dance performance, theatre arts, music, art, arts administration, or other related field. Recent graduates may also be considered.
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To access these positions, login to your UMBCworks account (via the link in the Jobs & Internships topic in myUMBC) and find details and application instructions as well as hundreds of other job postings!

Please note you MUST have an approved resume and be released to apply to internships. To schedule an appointment, access our online system in UMBCworks or call (410) 455-2216.

The School of Engineering is offering a summer research program with a stipend valued at $4500, as well as providing housing, food, and up to $400 in travel expenses.

During the nine-week period, students will investigate topics in the interdisciplinary field of Surface and Thin Film Science and Engineering. Participants will contribute to the forefront ofresearch on the synthesis, structure and properties of thin films and materials surfaces. Work side-by-side with faculty mentors, doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows in our labs to conduct original research, gain valuable new experience, and make new friends and contacts. The program provides professional development, career exposure, industry visits, advanced analytical skills, and a variety of recreational activities.

Friendships, Student Organizations, and Midterms, Oh My!  One of the most common struggles faced by our students is how to balance a multitude of demands while living mentally and physically healthy lives.  Difficulty navigating this challenge can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety which can have adverse effects on academic performance, health, interpersonal relationships, and more.  We encourage you to talk with your student about the importance of prioritizing activities that promote wellness into their daily routines.  Resting, relaxing, unwinding and rejuvenating are essential to enhancing your students’ experience both at UMBC and in their future endeavors.

Not sure how to help your student manage stress?  The Counseling Center can help.  Students have access to free and confidential services at the Counseling Center.  They can opt to meet one on one with a counselor for individual therapy, attend group therapy, or attend workshops directly targeting concerns such as procrastination, stress management, test anxiety, and more.  Additionally, we are excited to introduce you to our newest resource: The Mind Spa. 

The Mind Spa is a tranquil oasis within the Counseling Center that is replete with tools to help students relax, improve memory and concentration, increase awareness of emotional states, and learn to regulate stress and anxiety.  It is a space equipped for practice of mindfulness, meditation, relaxation, and overall self-care.  Practice of mindfulness and meditation have important physical and mental health benefits such as increased concentration, awareness, and regulation of emotions.  Studies show that these practices have positive short and long-term effects on the brain.  Specific resources that we offer include but are not limited to: A massage chair, Biofeedback programs, meditation cushions, hot tea, aromatherapy, light therapy, self-help library, and guided breathing/relaxation exercises.

Students have access to the Mind Spa Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. Students can walk-in or call ahead (410-455-2472) to reserve the space or specific resource.