2023 Outstanding Co-op/Intern of the Year Award Winners

The question “What do you want to be in life?” has been posed to all of us many times. Many of my friends were able to list their future occupation with a surety I lacked. Coming into Bradley, I was undecided. Committing to a major or career path felt like trapping myself. Eventually I declared my major as Psychology, a field I always found interesting, and paired it with a few minors including Management & Leadership. I thought I could combine these two studies and go into the field of Human Resources. Before working at my internship last summer, I wasn’t fully confident that it was the right career path for me. After this experience, I am excited for a future in Human Resources. People spend so much of their lives at work, and I would love to be able to help make that environment better through HR.
In the summer of 2023, I found an HR internship at Geotechnology, now called UES. It was such an incredible experience. The job description listed a broad range of responsibilities which allowed me to learn a little bit about each of the many roles and functions in HR. In my role, I supported both the generalist and recruiting functions. I was responsible for creating the wellness newsletter for the quarter which helped to promote general employee wellness, safety, and work life balance. Within this position, I coordinated meetings across the region and helped plan events for employee engagement.
On the recruiting side of things, I was able to complete full cycle recruiting activities. This included sourcing, scheduling and conducting phone screens, coordinating interviews, and extending offers. I was also involved with the onboarding process where I set up employees into our human resource information systems, coordinated first day materials, and gave orientations.
It was a great learning experience, and I worked with an absolutely amazing group of people. I am very grateful to the HR team I worked with for providing me with such a great experience. My coworkers were always willing to help me learn the many tasks of my job so I would be able to grow and confidently work independently. This internship was a rewarding opportunity. I believe HR has the ability to help create a better work culture and environment. In my future career, I hope to be able to support and improve the lives of those I work with.

The chance to partake in the Hollywood Semester was the ultimate factor that solidified my decision to choose Bradley. As a Television Arts major, I knew I needed to take advantage of the opportunity to live on the West Coast and feel what working in the entertainment industry was like. During the fall of 2023, I was selected as a Social Media and Public Relations intern at JV Agency, a dynamic music marketing firm. They’re passionate about helping smaller artists grow and get the recognition they deserve.
I was ecstatic when I received the call offering me a position with JV Agency. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had a passion for pop culture and the music industry. This opportunity allowed me to connect my personal interests with my work, making me excited to clock in every day. Sharing a work environment with people with similar interests and personalities created an unforgettable dynamic.
I had many responsibilities while working at JV Agency. With social media, I utilized my graphic design and videography skills to create Instagram posts that appealed to the human eye. Doing so allowed me to get more experience with different software, like Photoshop, Canva, and Premiere Pro. I also promoted our clients’ new singles to help spread their work throughout the country. Working closely with various music artists exposed me to the diverse aspects of the industry, giving me an incredible hands-on experience. This experience not only enhanced my skills in social media and PR but also provided me with valuable insights into the multifaceted world of music and entertainment.
Not only did I learn essential skills that will help me in my career path, but I also learned about networking and how to form meaningful connections with people in the industry. As someone planning on moving to Los Angeles within a year after graduating, it is vital for me to stay in touch with everyone I meet, especially in a culture where networking is a must. My supervisor, Jazmine Valencia, introduced me to many different types of people in the industry, and I am still in contact with them today. Without my internship, I wouldn’t have as much upper hand as I do.
My internship experience made me realize that I would love to work in social media and public relations. This realization has opened doors to a broader spectrum of career options in the entertainment industry after college. While I initially envisioned myself solely in video production, my exposure to the intricacies of social media and public relations has broadened my perspective. I am now excited about the prospect of leveraging my skills and experiences to make meaningful contributions in these fields.

During my studies at Bradley University, I went from being a Science Education major to a Family Life Science major. I decided to switch from being a teacher to working in a non-profit setting because I wanted to make a difference in society without the confines of a classroom. I gained a multitude of information and knowledge through the classes I took in the Family and Consumer Science Department and became interested in families and public health.
While at the time my nonprofit experience was very limited to a Veterans Home operated through Goodwill Industries of Central Illinois, I have not fully operated in the nonprofit space. In December 2022, a few of my classmates recommended that I should volunteer at a local nonprofit organization. I hesitated to volunteer because it was unlike anything I had done before. Ultimately, I decided to make that leap and started volunteering at Central Illinois (CI) Friends. CI Friends is a public health agency focusing on sexual health. Some of the duties of the volunteers are to build safer sex kits and prepare client folders to help staff delegate their time to more pressing needs. On top of those duties, I also volunteered at a spring campaign event that was hosted at Peoria High School called GYT (Get Yourself Tested). After experiencing this health campaign, I began to ask the question: Why does Bradley University not host an event like this?
As the semester was ending, I realized that I did not have an internship lined up, which is one of the requirements for my major. I asked my advisor if I could do something health-related and once I got the confirmation, I asked Central Illinois Friends if I could intern during the summer of 2023. They gladly agreed to the internship proposal and the rest is history.
Although the main mission of my internship was to set up the first Bradley Health Fair, it was not the only goal I had in mind. Early on, I set out to gain skills in community outreach by going to community events to talk about the organization and its services. These skills were put to the test at the Peoria Rivercity Pridefest, which is the organization's biggest event during the summer. There, I had to constantly speak with prospective clients and community members about our services. I also maintained a community presence by setting up small outreach events and partnering with local organizations to provide services to underserved communities and encourage them to get tested for STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). On top of working in the clinic by scheduling people for appointments, answering calls, or inputting data into the EMR (Electronic Medical Record), I also held multiple meetings with Bradley Health Services regarding a potential Bradley Health Fair. After much planning and coordination, I helped successfully launch the first Bradley Health Fair to provide health and social services for Bradley students to access during their time on campus.
At the end of my internship, I was offered a job as the Peer Outreach Coordinator for Central Illinois Friends. In this position, I am responsible for setting up GYT Health Fair events for high schools in the Peoria School District 150. I also became a health navigator for PrEP, a once-a-day pill to prevent HIV infection, and Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy while conducting HIV Surveillance for about 13 counties in Illinois.
As graduation approaches, I look back on my positive experience interning and now working at Central Illinois Friends. It has equipped me with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in a nonprofit organization and introduced me to many valuable resources. In the future, my goal is to open and run a nonprofit organization that aims to bring parental and social services to LGBTQ+ and underserved families in Central Illinois. Ultimately building on the skills that I have learned at CI Friends and furthering my education to be able to make my dreams a reality.

When I was young and as I grew up I was always astonished and intrigued by space. Whether it was looking up at the stars at night, or watching Star Wars with my father after school, I always found myself fascinated by space. When I got to college in the Fall of 2021, I was a mechanical engineering major with very little knowledge of what I wanted to do with my career. All I did know was that I liked science, building things, and space. Going through my first 2 years of college with these things at the forefront of my mind, I used my passion to motivate myself towards a career in space engineering. Thanks to the tools provided by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Smith Career Center at Bradley University, I was able to obtain my first internship and pursue my passion.
During the summer of 2023, I began an internship program with Northrop Grumman Corporation as an integration and test mechanical engineering intern within their space systems sector. During my time there, Northrop Grumman’s internship program was ranked #1 by yello.co for 2023, and for good reason. The internship allowed me to grow immensely as an engineer and it allowed me to chase my dreams of making a difference within the space industry. I had the opportunity to integrate and test space systems on multiple satellite space vehicles, which is something I never dreamed I could do as an intern. I not only learned valuable new technical skills related to space engineering, but I was also able to apply these skills in the field while being included in a diverse and balanced engineering environment that encouraged my growth in the field.
At the beginning of the internship I sat down with my manager and discussed my goals for the program so that I could be an integral member of the team. I became trained in spacecraft handling procedures and effectively applied my training to meaningful projects and tasks related to component installation. I was able to become well-versed in the space vehicle production line processes, and successfully cut process time through the optimization of steps related to testing flight hardware. I learned to communicate with technicians, engineers, and managers, and eventually played a role in project meetings providing suggestions on how to move forward with the project and ways to continuously improve the program. It was truly an incredible experience that gave me skills and knowledge related to the space industry. But it wasn’t just about the work that made the experience, it was also about the people.
Networking during the internship experience was an integral part of the program. I became involved in activities with coworkers outside of work that had a direct influence on my mentality and capabilities as an intern. Whether it was getting lunch or spending a weekend exploring the surrounding culture with other interns, it was an important aspect to highlight the necessity of a good work-life balance.
Overall, I was blessed to be an intern with Northrop Grumman allowing me to live out my dreams of making an impact in the space industry, while also greatly enhancing my career background (portfolio, network, and knowledge). This experience will have an everlasting impact on my journey through my career and education, and it would not have been possible without the resources and support from Bradley University.

I have had my eyes set on a Marketing major since I was a sophomore in high school. By chance, I was placed in a marketing class due to a schedule change, but it ended up being the best thing that could have happened for me. I was fascinated by the world of marketing. I loved everything I was learning and the assignments that I was doing. At the end of the year, I had decided that Marketing was the path that I wanted to take for my college career. My teacher from Riverside Brookfield High School, Patty Sarkady, encouraged and supported me in my college search for marketing programs. She led me toward Bradley, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Without the help and support of my family, friends, and teachers, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am the proud daughter of two immigrants and from a young age, they instilled in me the value of being grateful for the opportunities that come your way. They also taught me to never give up and always work hard to achieve the goals that I want to accomplish. Seeing all that my parents had gone through to end up where they are today motivates me every day. I saw the multiple obstacles that they both had to overcome but no matter how big or small the obstacle was, they never let it bring them down. That is why I strive to always do my best and never give up.
In January 2023, I was given my first opportunity to apply everything that I was learning from my classes at Bradley to a real-world experience. I became the Social Media Intern for the Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club in Peoria Heights. The Illinois Valley Yacht & Canoe Club is known as the IVY Club for short. It is a historic private club founded in 1907 and on North Galena Rd. in Peoria Heights, on the scenic Illinois River. From boating memberships to swim team memberships and even social memberships, the club provides fun for everyone. Free time is well spent at the IVY Club with its wide range of amenities including a swimming pool with both a Tiki Bar & Snack bar, jet ski slips, banquet facility, and an enticing restaurant. I feel privileged to work at a place with so much rich history. The first project that I assisted with was a complete restructure of the website that they currently had. I worked alongside their website creator to reformat and update their website. They were very pleased with the outcome of the new website. In addition to assisting with their website, I also manage their social media presence such as Facebook and Instagram. I create and post content, photograph events, and design menus for the IVY Club.
My goals when starting my internship were to boost their member engagement, acquire new members, and grow their social media presence. I am proud to say that I am doing just that, and I have loved every minute of it. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time and made some very valuable connections. For example, the team I a part of are always eager to help me with any problems I run into, and I haven’t met a group of individuals who were so collaborative as well as open-minded when it comes to discussing ideas and plans from someone with less real-world experience. Working diligently in an atmosphere that is friendly and family-oriented has allowed me to grow my skills in networking and public speaking. I couldn’t have asked for a better first internship and I can’t wait to continue interning here until I graduate!