UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Three first-year students from the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in the College of Agricultural Sciences were inspired to pursue summer internships by their experiences in AG 150: First-Year Seminar at Penn State Altoona.

Gail Good, associate teaching professor of agriculture at the Altoona campus, explained that a core component of AG 150 is encouraging students to examine their interests and goals. The course includes opportunities for students to seek experiences and make connections in their areas of interest. Good also includes professionals and resources from Penn State and the community.

“I ask students to think about how their interests and goals relate and how they can further develop these goals,” Good said.

Ellen Rom, the department’s coordinator of undergraduate programs and alumni relations, noted that internships offer students many benefits.

“Besides gaining hands-on experience and seeing classroom theory in action, student interns learn professional work habits and interpersonal skills,” she said. “Internships can reaffirm career goals or shine a light on new paths to consider. Self-reflection on the experience also helps students identify current strengths and those they want to develop.”

Brynn Miller, of Roaring Spring, is majoring in agricultural science with a minor in forest ecosystems. She spent her summer as a scientific and technical forestry intern with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

“Throughout the summer, I was out in the field with the forestry staff, but I also had the opportunity to work alongside the biology staff, land management staff and a game warden,” Miller said.

During the internship, Miller explored forestry from all sides. She documented SILVAH (Silviculture of Allegheny Hardwoods) plots, tallied trees, marked future timber sale blocks, covered maps, applied herbicide, mentored youth, goose-banded and even prescribed burning.

“Before this summer, forestry wasn’t a career path I envisioned for myself,” Miller said. “I applied for, but didn’t get, a habitat management internship. However, within the first week of this internship, my eyes were opened to all the opportunities in forestry. I even switched my minor to support my new goal of working for the Game Commission someday.”

Emily Suchta, of Lilly, is majoring in wildlife and fisheries science and minoring in biology and marine sciences. She interned at the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium’s International Conservation Center in Fairhope.

During Suchta’s internship, the facility was home to four African elephants, four reindeer and a Bactrian camel. Suchta assisted with preparing diets, creating enrichment, cleaning and providing minor medical treatments.

“I went into this internship with a vague interest in elephants and little knowledge about them,” she said. “Throughout my internship, I learned extensively about elephants’ mating habits, hierarchical rule, intelligence and anatomy.”

The facility supports efforts to recover the population of endangered species such as African elephants and Bactrian camels. Suchta said the facility’s values and goals directly aligned with her plans to focus her future career on restabilizing declining wildlife populations.

“As a first-year student with no prior professional animal experience, I didn’t believe I’d get this internship,” she said. “Putting myself out there and applying was daunting, but it paid off.”

Garett Walk, of Tyrone, is pursuing a degree in wildlife and fisheries science. As an intern with the Blair County Conservation District, Walk engaged in a variety of experiences related to wildlife and environmental conservation.

He assisted with stream restoration projects with Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit focused on conserving cold-water fisheries and their watersheds. Walk also visited agricultural sites to learn about waste plans and led educational sessions for children at NatureWorks Park in Hollidaysburg.

Walk said he hopes this internship will lead to future opportunities at organizations such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“I’m proud of Brynn, Emily and Garrett’s determination and what they’ve achieved,” Good said. “I’m confident they will go far in achieving their goals and dreams.”

Reflecting on their internships, all three students agreed that getting firsthand experience in their fields of study was invaluable.

“Having an internship in your early years of college is a good way to see if you enjoy doing a specific job before you declare your major,” Walk said.

“The best advice I can give is to get your name out there and network,” Miller said. “Simply being on an employer’s radar can make all the difference. Also, have a backup plan. Many internships are very competitive, and it is perfectly okay to get rejected. You never know how an internship could change your perspective on things or even tie into your career path in an unexpected way.”

Suchta recommends taking advantage of campus resources. “I contacted Career Services when I was writing my cover letter, and they were extremely helpful,” she said. “My cover letter turned out great, and I now understand better how to create one for future internships and jobs.”