Summer Internships Were Fruitful
09/30/19 | General, @GoDucksMoseley
The UO athletic department facilitated the placement of nearly 20 student-athletes in internships this past summer, several of which led to future employment or work experience.
Classes begin for fall quarter at the University of Oregon on Tuesday, which means the end of a busy summer for UO student-athletes who gained work experience and class credit in various internship programs.
For the second year in a row, the UO athletic department facilitated a summer program that placed nearly 20 student-athletes in internships around Lane County, including the Springfield Police Department and Kidsports. In addition, five Ducks travelled East for internships with Fidelity Investments, Inc.
In at least a half-dozen cases, the internships led to offers of future job experience, either through part-time employment or an extended internship for class credit.
"We are so proud of the student-athletes who decided to spend their summer doing an internship," said Katie Harbert, UO assistant athletic director for student-athlete development, who helped coordinate the summer program.
"They challenged themselves by getting out in the working world and in doing so learned a ton and gained valuable experience. To me these Ducks demonstrated the true meaning of student-athlete: that they can compete as elite athletes, earn good grades and still make time to gain work experience."
Football receiver Matt Mariota was placed with Springfield Police, and running back KJ Maduike worked with Kidsports. Football player Hunter Kampmoyer and soccer student-athlete Emily Kaestner were assigned internships with Lane County.
Several student-athletes gained work experience in the UO athletic department itself, including football player Drayton Carlberg with the Duck Athletic Fund and soccer player Taylor Kuroda (above) in administration. Soccer senior Alyssa Hinojosa worked with the University's Office of the Provost on the communications team.
Distance runner Melissa Berry and three football players — Gus Cumberlander, Cam McCormick and Ben Gomes — participated in a 10-day "sprinternship" through Fidelity in North Carolina. Track and field thrower Sydnee Walker also interned with Fidelity, but in a four-week program.
Gomes said the "sprinternship" captured the experience of a summer-long internship by exposing the student-athletes to the various elements of the investment firm.
"I always had an interest in finance, and ideally I still do want to become a financial advisor," Gomes said. "But I never really thought about being a portfolio manager. And that was there. And even cyber security."
McCormick said shadowing employees in various offices of the firm made a future career feel more tangible.
"Some guys might just say (after graduation), 'I'm a football player; now what do I do?'" McCormick said. "Now, I feel like that's not going to be the case for me."
Three other football players — Ryan Bay, Charlie Landgraf and Brady Aiello — joined Kevin Geniza from men's golf, Julia Eshet from women's tennis and Katie Bachman from acrobatics and tumbling as interns with Run Gum, an Oregon-based company that produces and markets caffeinated gum for athletes.
They handled various tasks from social media to marketing, from sales calls to providing e-commerce support.
"They brought a really fresh energy that was fun to be around," said Nathan Woods, chief operating officer for Run Gum. "They were all eager to learn and eager to do things. …
"Overall they represented the university in an amazing way. They just executed for four straight weeks at a level we were super happy with. And they brought a level of fun that got us even more excited about coming to work every day."
For the second year in a row, the UO athletic department facilitated a summer program that placed nearly 20 student-athletes in internships around Lane County, including the Springfield Police Department and Kidsports. In addition, five Ducks travelled East for internships with Fidelity Investments, Inc.
In at least a half-dozen cases, the internships led to offers of future job experience, either through part-time employment or an extended internship for class credit.
"We are so proud of the student-athletes who decided to spend their summer doing an internship," said Katie Harbert, UO assistant athletic director for student-athlete development, who helped coordinate the summer program.
"They challenged themselves by getting out in the working world and in doing so learned a ton and gained valuable experience. To me these Ducks demonstrated the true meaning of student-athlete: that they can compete as elite athletes, earn good grades and still make time to gain work experience."
Football receiver Matt Mariota was placed with Springfield Police, and running back KJ Maduike worked with Kidsports. Football player Hunter Kampmoyer and soccer student-athlete Emily Kaestner were assigned internships with Lane County.
Several student-athletes gained work experience in the UO athletic department itself, including football player Drayton Carlberg with the Duck Athletic Fund and soccer player Taylor Kuroda (above) in administration. Soccer senior Alyssa Hinojosa worked with the University's Office of the Provost on the communications team.
Distance runner Melissa Berry and three football players — Gus Cumberlander, Cam McCormick and Ben Gomes — participated in a 10-day "sprinternship" through Fidelity in North Carolina. Track and field thrower Sydnee Walker also interned with Fidelity, but in a four-week program.
Gomes said the "sprinternship" captured the experience of a summer-long internship by exposing the student-athletes to the various elements of the investment firm.
"I always had an interest in finance, and ideally I still do want to become a financial advisor," Gomes said. "But I never really thought about being a portfolio manager. And that was there. And even cyber security."
McCormick said shadowing employees in various offices of the firm made a future career feel more tangible.
"Some guys might just say (after graduation), 'I'm a football player; now what do I do?'" McCormick said. "Now, I feel like that's not going to be the case for me."
Three other football players — Ryan Bay, Charlie Landgraf and Brady Aiello — joined Kevin Geniza from men's golf, Julia Eshet from women's tennis and Katie Bachman from acrobatics and tumbling as interns with Run Gum, an Oregon-based company that produces and markets caffeinated gum for athletes.
They handled various tasks from social media to marketing, from sales calls to providing e-commerce support.
"They brought a really fresh energy that was fun to be around," said Nathan Woods, chief operating officer for Run Gum. "They were all eager to learn and eager to do things. …
"Overall they represented the university in an amazing way. They just executed for four straight weeks at a level we were super happy with. And they brought a level of fun that got us even more excited about coming to work every day."
Trent Kersten | Postgame vs. Washington
Sunday, October 12
Dante Moore & Bryce Boettcher | Postgame vs. Indiana
Sunday, October 12
Dan Lanning | Postgame vs. Indiana
Saturday, October 11
Duck Insider 10-10-25
Saturday, October 11
