Intern Spotlight - 2006
Career Services continues to promote the importance of the internship program and recognizes the achievements of our interns. During the 2006 school year students had the opportunity to gain experience at companies such as Furnace Hot Glass, Kiska, Doner, DIA, Clear Magazine, WDIV, Exhibit Works, Honda, and Disney. Here are some highlights of students who excelled during the past year.
Melissa Herndon
My internship experience taught me how it is possible to run a business as a freelance artist and has helped my personal photography career.
Melissa Herndon interned with editorial and commercial freelance photographer, Dan Lippitt. As Melissa gained confidence and showcased her talents, Dan began asking for input on lighting and composition and even gave her the opportunity to shoot some assignments for which she has received photo and style credits in local publications. At the end of Melissa's internship Dan hired her to be his assistant.
"I had many different experiences including communicating with the client, billing, and the specific shoot and style," said Melissa. "My responsibilities over the course of the semester increased as Dan gained confidence in me."
Cheresse Thornhill
Interning at Nike was a life altering experience; I left CCS as a design student and returned a designer.
Cheresse Thornhill had the opportunity to do an internship with Nike in their skateboard division. One of her assignments was to create a color ways, which is a color and material application, for an already existing shoe, Nike 6.0 Oncore Seale. Cheresse's original idea behind the color ways was to the show the close relationship between surfing and skateboarding.
Nike was so impressed with Cheresse's design that they decided to produce her shoe, The Seagle, named after Nike's Ultimate Action Sports Car. They made 1000 shoes that were launched in the Active Speciality Stores throughout California on December 16, 2006. Some of the stores sold out of The Seagle that weekend and many stores sold out within the week. Cheresse's shoe has even been seen on Ebay!
"While at Nike all I could think of was how blessed I was, being a female 21 year old aspiring footwear designer from Miami, FL, interning at the number one footwear company in the world," said Cheresse. "My main goals were to learn all I could, contribute all I could, and meet as many people as I could, and I'm proud to say that all my goals and then some were achieved."
Since her internship ended, Nike has extended an offer of employment to Cheresse. She will be joining the company this summer as a full time designer.
Kevin Calabrese
My internship has given me priceless experience that increases my marketability and understanding. You will never regret taking an internship.
Kevin Calabrese worked on many projects during his internship at HB Stubbs, an exhibit design company whose clients include DaimlerChrysler, Pontiac, GMC, Panasonic, Emerson, LeMay Museum and ADI. As Kevin excelled at his internship and proved his credibility, HB Stubbs charged him with the responsibility of designing large portions of the projects. Kevin, a senior in industrial design, has been hired as a full time designer with HB Stubbs.
"The first and most vital lesson that I have learned at CCS is TAKE AN INTERNSHIP," said Kevin. "Use the resources available to CCS students and get advice from multiple sources (faculty mentor, alumni mentor, industry professionals)."
