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Public Relations Internship Opportunity Takes Plank to Mackinac Island

Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.

Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet:  Carman Plank

Carman PlankShe is: A senior from Romulus, studying Public Relations.

Internship: Plank is spending her summer as a Public Relations and Marketing intern for Mackinac State Historic Parks, on Mackinac Island.

Plank is completing the 12-week unpaid internship this summer. Though her internship is unpaid, she will be receiving a stipend at the end of the summer.

What she enjoys:  “My favorite experience would have to be when Under the Radar Michigan came to Fort Holmes (the highest point on the island) to interview Phil Porter, the Director of Mackinac State Historic Parks. I was grateful to be a part of that and see how PR plays into hosting media,” Plank said.

Plank also said she enjoys the opportunity to live on Mackinac Island.

What she is learning: Plank is spending the summer sharpening her PR skills that she has been learning at Ferris. She spends time updating websites, producing press releases and putting together their employee newsletter, The Current. Plank has also been learning what it means to be an independent worker and to take initiative.

What she is looking forward to: Plank is looking forward to learning more about nonprofit organizations and their relation to public relations.

“A lot of focus has been put on agency public relations and it is nice to see a different outlook,” Plank said.

Core Value: Ferris’ core value that Plank’s internship emulates is “collaboration.”

“Here at MSHP we have to collaborate with other staff members, as well as newspapers to get the word out and to build relationships with the customers,” Plank said.

Her future plans: Plank will be graduating in the spring of 2015. She hopes to either continue her education by attending law school to become a Judge Advocate General in the Air Force, or work for a nonprofit agency as a public relations specialist.