What is a liberal arts education?

In the words of the late CC President Lloyd E. Worner: “Ideally, the result is the creation of a base from which one will move into a meaningful life, liberated from fear and ignorance, so that one can participate significantly in the community in which he lives and functions ….”

Judy Offerdahl, internship coordinator

The eternal question, then: How can one make a living with a liberal arts degree?

One way that CC is helping its students weigh different career options, test these options in the “real world,” and make important connections to land good jobs, is through its internship program.

CC students have, in recent history, interned at national public relations firms, a famous cancer research institute, TV stations, the local Chamber of Commerce, large law firms — even the U.S. embassy in Fiji.

Internship coordinator Judy Offerdahl calls internships “a bridge between academics and what students do after college.” It’s important that students collect some work experiences that, combined with their excellent educations, help attract employers after they graduate.

Offerdahl says students should look at internships and other real-world learning experiences as “stepping stones” to increasingly bigger opportunities.

“It’s not realistic for a first-year student to expect to write for the Washington Post. But, if they wrote for the Catalyst their first year, did an internship with a local newspaper the following summer, and did another internship at a national magazine another summer, then it could be possible.”

The benefits of internships are many. Nationally, 40 percent of interns are offered a position at the company they intern with. And sometimes, students discover through an internship what they don’t want to do, which can be just as valuable as finding a vocation they love.

Offerdahl says all first-year CC students are invited to the Career Center for a 15-minute appointment with staff, where they learn about the resources offered and the internship assistance the center can provide. The CC Career Center has reference books like “The Internship Bible,” published by The Princeton Review, where students can find internship opportunities in many different fields. They also offer assistance with resumes and cover letters, among other services.

Grace Person '04, CC/CEFP fellow

At the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Executive Director Michael Hannigan ’75 has employed CC students as interns for the five years the foundation has been in existence. Hannigan is a CC graduate, as well as a former staff member and geology instructor.

“CC students provide high-quality help; they can come in, be quick learners, take initiative and lots of responsibility, and do a great job while getting some valuable skills. It’s been a great experience,” Hannigan said.

The PPCF currently employs Grace Person ’04 as a yearlong fellow and Emily Auerbach ’05 as a summer intern. They will be involved in grant making, producing newsletters and marketing pieces, and helping to create charitable gift funds, among other duties, just like the full-time staff members at the organization.

Person’s fellowship and Auerbach’s internship are provided through the new Colorado College Civic Engagement Fellowship Program, an alumni-driven program that partners CC students and recent graduates with nonprofit public interest organizations through paid positions.

Another student who made good use of internships while at CC is Amanda Webber ’04. Since the art studio major knew she wanted to go into architecture, she completed two internships — one at a large architectural firm in New York City and another at a small firm in Colorado Springs while at CC.

“Especially at the small firm, I got to see the real workings of an architectural firm; the whole picture of how it all fits together. I built architectural models for several big projects — one for the downtown art district project and one for the [Colorado Springs] Independent’s new space,” Webber said.

CC would like to provide as many internship opportunities as possible to our students. If you or your organization offer internships, please contact: Judy Offerdahl, internship coordinator, at (719) 389-6893 or jofferdahl@ColoradoCollege.edu.