2015 Interns

January was filled with intern interviews as we searched for college students to join the Blue Ribbon Foundation’s team. This February, we’ve been planning their individual projects and dividing the work that needs to be accomplished this summer. One intern will join the team part-time in the month of March and the others will jump on board in May. 

 

Last year was my first time promoting the internship program, collecting the applications, and interviewing potential students. I was a bit nervous about being on the other side of the Foundation's internship. Thinking about last summer, I came up with the top 5 moments from my first group of interns.

 

5. Placing more than 100 bricks across the Fairgrounds and rewarding ourselves with ice cream bars from Dairy Zone. 

4. Working late nights and weekends, only to see the interns contribute to auction ideas, create unique promotional materials, and organize volunteers for our record breaking Corndog Kickoff. 

3. Having three people ready to jump in on any given task, even if I didn’t know what exactly I was doing.  

2. Introducing the interns to one of my favorite food places during the Fair (The Rib Shack) and convincing one of them to join me at least 7 of the 11 days of the Fair. 

1. Watching three talented young women grow professionally in the real world.  

 

The Blue Ribbon Foundation internship program is hard work and a great learning experience, wrapped in a lot of fun. The new interns have big shoes to fill because last year’s crew was top notch.

 

We had more applications this year than ever before. I was impressed with the talent level of the students that applied for the position. I enjoyed talking and learning more about each of the applicants we interviewed.  They were all very motivated and involved in a wide range of activities. Several students expressed how they were goal-oriented and dedicated to their work. Whether it was excelling in the classroom or serving as a leader within a campus organization, these students seemed up to the challenge of working for the Iowa State Fair. Each of the interviewees spoke of their individual experience with the Fair and how much it meant to them. It was a difficult decision to choose the best fit for our internship needs.

 

We are pleased to welcome Delaney Howell (Northwest Missouri State), Maggie Jennett (Iowa State), Molly Schmitt (Wartburg College) and Anna Van Waardhuizen (Drake) to the Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation.  Look for more information about all four of these ladies in our Spring newsletter and throughout the summer. These women will be busying organizing the Iowan of the Day program, preparing for the Fairgrounds 5K, coordinating all of the summer’s volunteers, planning special events, and of course “other duties as assigned” – meaning pretty much any and everything that helps make the Foundation a success. 

 

Again this year, I will do my very best to help make their internship experience rewarding. There is no doubt I will learn something from each of them throughout the summer. With a year under my belt – I feel more confident I’ll be able to help the interns succeed. 

 

2014 Blue Ribbon Foundation Team: