OUT for Work Summer 2013 Internship Program

OUT for Work is a nonprofit organization with a mission to educate, prepare, and empower LGBTQ college students for the transition from academia to the workplace.  We do this by organizing career conferences, events, and providing tools and resources to college and university students across the country. We also reach out to LGBTQ safe and inclusive companies and organizations and bring them together to help educate and act as resources to prepare students.  
What is the OUT for Work internship program?
OUT for Work offers internships to all graduate, undergraduate, as well as recently graduated students covering a variety of disciplines. 
Internships are located in the Washington, D.C. office. OUT for Work offers public transportation travel cost reimbursements, however this is not a paid internship. Course credit for the internship is offered depending on the policies of the particular institution the student is attending. The status of a particular internship as credit will be determined before an internship is offered. 

Who can apply for OUT for Work internships?

We are looking specifically for individuals to fill two internship positions this summer:

1) Media/ public relations and outreach liaison – this person will focus on communications and press done by OUT for Work through social networking sites. This person will be responsible for maintaining the sites as well as posting articles and information about upcoming events and programs. This person will also keep in touch with our members and followers and do research to find interesting articles to promote, organize press releases about upcoming projects, publications, and events as well as creatively find new ways for OUT for Work to connect with list-servers, databases, and followers.

2) Research & Development Assistant – this person will maintain the up-to-date level of our databases, upload them into our online database system, maintain files and documents, while also assisting in archiving our resources, including websites, links, articles, organizations we are involved with, past conferences and programs, and more. This person will also keep past attendees in touch with OUT for Work, making them feel connected to our programs as well as other projects and assignments as needed.

Successful candidates must have the following skills:
-Knowledge of and commitment to LGBTQ issues. 
-Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing. 
-Computer proficiency for word processing, database work, e-mail and Web research. 
-Desire and commitment to work in a environment where commitment to diversity based on race, sex, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical ability is an important institutional value. 

How do I apply for an OUT for Work Internship? 
Please submit:
1. A cover letter stating: 
o	The approximate dates and times you are available 15-20hrs per week during the upcoming summer. 
o	Why you would like to work as an OUT for Work intern. 
o	What you think you can contribute to OUT for Work through your work as an intern. 
2.	Your resume 

E mail to: alex@outforwork.com before April 30th, 2013
Duration of internship: June  3rd – August 23rd, 2013

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the largest health insurer in the mid-Atlantic region, serving over three million members in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia.  Our interns work on a part time basis in the fall and up to full time in the summer.  As the leading HealthCare Company we teach our interns best practices and procedures for creating and maintaining HealthCare information systems.

Qualifications:

Must be a student enrolled in an accredited college or university either junior or senior, will accept qualified sophomores, looking for GPA 3.0 or above. Majors Information Systems, Technology, Computer Science or related field. 

Exposure to Computer Science, Engineering, or Data Analysis / Survey Design preferred but not required.  Depending on the area of IT, any of the following may be required:

Abilities/Skills:

The ability to work independently and in small teams is necessary.  Good oral and written communications abilities are necessary. Strong Analytical and Organizational skills are required.  

We are looking for students who can work up to 20 (3 days/week) hours for the fall and potentially full time for the summer.

MUST BE AUTHORIZED TO WORK IN THE US WITHOUT SPONSORSHIP

Department:  eBusiness Solutions

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and ADA compliant

To apply search Intern at:

www.carefirst.com/careers

Stanley Black & Decker, an S&P 500 company, is a diversified global provider of hand tools, power tools, accessories, mechanical access solutions, electronic security solutions, engineered fastening systems and more.  With over $8B in global sales, Stanley Black & Decker is viewed as a world leader in the marketplace.  We currently have an opening for a dynamic individual to join our team as an Operations/Manufacturing Intern for the Summer of 2013 at our Hampstead, MD location.

The Operations/Manufacturing Intern will:

·       Participate in key manufacturing processes to drive operational excellence and improved efficiencies.

·       Work closely with functional business groups to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of solutions deployed in support of business goals and objectives.

·       Take part in projects and ensure that the functionality is developed in a way that complies with business requirements and established methodologies and practices.

·       Monitor and report to management on the status of project efforts, anticipating/identifying issues that inhibit the attainment of project goals and implementing corrective actions.

·       Identify opportunities for improvement and make constructive suggestions for change.

Required Qualifications:

·       Must be able to work 30-40 hours a week

·       Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering or other related disciplines at the Junior or Senior level

·       3.0 or higher GPA

·       Facilitating, interpersonal and negotiation skills

·       Experience using various computer applications including Microsoft Excel, Access and other applications included in the Microsoft Office Suite

·       Basic knowledge of operations, supply chain and finance

Stanley Black & Decker is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from women, veterans and minorities.

7 Tips for Selecting College Classes

Andrew Roberts, an assistant professor of political science at Northwestern University, wrote this great book that can help students squeeze far more value out of their college years than any other book that I've read.

[Read 15 good things to do the summer before college.]

Here are the broad categories that Roberts covers in his book: choosing a school (If you don't know the differences between a college and a university, you really should read this book!); selecting a major; choosing college classes; being successful in college; interacting with professors; learning outside the classroom; attending graduate school; and rules professors live by.

Because so many college students don't know how to take advantage of their academic choices, I'm sharing a few of the 25 tips for selecting classes that Roberts provides in his easy-to-digest book:

1. Visit 5 to 10 classes during the first week of a semester: Try a different class during every time slot. Sampling classes can provide an early impression about which ones are worthwhile and which would be busts. If a promising class is filled, try again the next semester.

[Get more tips on getting into the class you need.]

2. Aim for variety: High school students are not familiar with most subjects that colleges offer. That's a great reason why underclassmen, in particular, should sample as many different disciplines as possible. By dabbling, they are more likely to discover a discipline that they like.

3. Don't rush to complete general-ed requirements: Freshmen and sophomores tend to focus on fulfilling their general-ed requirements early, but Roberts says that's a bad idea. If you postpone some of the general-ed requirements, you can better determine which subjects that you'd really like to focus on in college.

[Think about 10 questions to ask before picking a college major.]

4. At least once a year, take a class that challenges your beliefs: Leave your comfort zone and become acquainted with world views that don't sync with yours. If you're a conservative, consider taking a class on Marxism or perhaps women's studies. If you're an atheist, try a theology course. A liberal could choose a class on conservative political thought. Even if you ultimately hate the course, Roberts suggests that you should learn more than if you had simply chosen a class that confirms your beliefs.

5. Take writing-intensive classes: Choosing classes that requires copious writing sounds grueling, but Roberts offers pragmatic reasons for volunteering for this torture. Employers want graduates who can write, and you're not going to get a pass even if you're majoring in a technical or scientific field. You will also receive more attention from a professor in a writing-intensive class since he/she must review what you write.

[What are the 10 ways to ruin a college paper?]

6. Read faculty evaluations: Most universities have students complete faculty evaluations at the end of each semester. If the results are made public—and they often are—pour through them. Students tend to agree with each other on what classes are best, and these also seem to be correlated to performance. Students perform better in classes that they rate highly.

7. Consider auditing classes: The typical college student takes around 30 classes during their college career. In contrast, a university may offer 1,000 or more. If you want to soak up as much learning as possible, audit some classes.

Name: Collin Wojciechowski

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: The Baltimore Partnership for College Access and Success

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, Maryland

Title of Your Position: Project Manager

Major(s)/Minor(s): Political Science [Major] Media and Communication Studies [Major] Public Administration [Minor] History [Minor]

Expected Graduation Date (Month & Year): May 2013

1. Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research or service-learning position/assignment, including your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

The Baltimore Partnership for College Access and Success (BPCAS) is a brand new non-profit sponsored by the Greater Baltimore Urban League. The BPCAS works to place college students as paid mentors in Baltimore City Middle Schools, to help students achieve academically and guide them along the path to higher education. In my role as Project Manager, I am responsible for drafting this new organization’s Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan will outline how the organization functions now and where it would like to be in terms of funding and outreach over the next ten years.

2. What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company and what have you found most challenging?

One of the best parts of my internship is the ability to work with students. The BPCAS is based in an East Baltimore Middle School and every day I get to work with students on their various summer projects. It is so rewarding to be able to help a student on a math problem or an English assignment and then see his or her excitement when they get the answer correct. By far the most challenging part of my job is to help secure funding. Even though this organization is doing so much good, this harsh economic climate has made securing grant funding extremely difficult.

3. What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another summer activity?

The most unique experience I have gained from my time with the BPCAS is the privilege of writing the Strategic Plan. Being given the opportunity to do long term planning for an organization that has the potential to have a positive statewide impact has been exhilarating.

4. How do you see your summer work as meaningful? Has it given you a chance to work on issues or with communities that matter to you?

The work that the BPCAS is doing is extremely meaningful, both to me personally and the Greater Baltimore community. By getting paid mentors into these middle schools we are not only making a positive, proven, and lasting impact in the lives of these young people but also providing fantastic opportunities for college students to be a part of Baltimore. For me, getting the chance to make a positive impact for youth in the city I love is the best way imaginable to spend a summer.

5. How has your summer experience shaped the way you think about your power to impact the world? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

My work with the BPCAS, especially drafting the Strategic Plan, has shown me how much impact one person can have on a community, even if their just an intern. Because this plan is now in place, the BPCAS will now have a stronger, more concrete, structure that will allow them to bring in more funding and expand to several parts of Maryland. When that happens, more students will be mentored, meaning college attendance will go up, crime will go down, and Maryland will be that much stronger.

2013 Service-Learning & Civic Engagement Conference
Community-Based Learning: Getting Real About Civic Engagement

Saturday, April 6th, 2013
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (optional networking event)

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)

On Saturday, April 6th, 2013, UMBC, the Baltimore Collegetown Network, and Maryland-DC Campus Compact, along with many other area colleges and universities, are partnering to present this unique day-long conference. This is the sixth annual "Service-Learning & Civic Engagement Conference" and will be attended by students, faculty and staff from colleges and universities, as well as community organizations in the Maryland - Washington, DC region.

The purpose of the conference is to share success strategies among students, faculty and staff at institutions in partnership with a community voice throughout Maryland and DC on the topics of community service, service-learning and civic engagement.

REGISTER TODAY: http://sixthannualslcec.eventbrite.com 

To learn more please visit http://www.baltimorecollegetown.org/events/service-learning-conference/

Name:Kyle Baker
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Fleishman-Hillard
Location of the Organization (City, State):  Washington, D.C.
Title of Your Position:Design Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):Graphic Design
Expected Graduation Date (Month & Year): 2014

1. Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research or service-learning position/assignment, including your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

My internship was with a media communications and public relations firm; Fleishman-Hillard. There I worked with the digital-creative team. I designed logos, advertisements and layouts for social network pages. I also participated in brainstorming sessions, pitching ideas that could be used for various projects the company was embarking upon.

2. What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company and what have you found most challenging?

I most enjoyed the fact that I was given the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills that I’ve gained in the classroom in a workplace setting. Working with a team of professionals certainly aided my understanding of the importance of working collaboratively with other talented and skilled people in order to accomplish a task. The most challenging aspect of the internship was probably deciphering ways to get messages across more efficiently.

3. What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another summer activity?

I gained so much from my experience working as an intern. Apart from gaining better knowledge of the adobe creative suite programs, as a paraprofessional, I was immersed into many aspects of the design studio. I worked as part of a collaborative digital/design team and worked with clients to create design-based projects assigned to the team and me.

4. How do you see your summer work as meaningful? Has it given you a chance to work on issues or with communities that matter to you?

Working this summer was meaningful because it enabled me to gain practical knowledge and gave me many opportunities to explore beyond the confines of design, but also many other aspects. I worked alongside members of the media communications, public relations, and analytics teams. The exposure and opportunity gave me a glance at the corporate atmosphere.

5. How has your summer experience shaped the way you think about your power to impact the world? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

I believe that based upon everything I learned from my internship this summer, I’m better equipped to find work and be successful in the world of design once I graduate. I’ve confirmed that this is the type of work I could see myself doing; design is definitely a profession in which I’ll be happy.

Join UMBC's LSAT Test Prep and prepare for the types of questions included in the Law School Admissions Test. Designed to improve performance on the competitive LSAT, this intensive course focuses on:

1. Test-taking techniques
2. Time-saving methods
3. Improving logical reasoning
4. Practicing with sample tests
5. Enhancing reading comprehension
6. Reducing test anxiety

Taught by Dr. Anthony Poplawski of Spiegelberg and Associates, UMBC’s Test Preparation Courses are acclaimed for their comprehensiveness, revealing the true character of the test, their focus on maximizing scores, their intellectual seriousness, and reducing the test candidate’s test anxiety. Instruction is at the highest professional level by experienced college faculty.

Please visit The Law School Admission Council at www.lsac.org to view information on the LSAT exam.

TO REGISTER AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COURSE, PLEASE VISIT:

http://www.umbc.edu/testprep/lsat

The next class will begin on May 7th and meet on Tuesdays at UMBC's South campus from 6-9:30 pm

Register by April 16 for a 10% early bird discount!