Students Flourish in New Internship Program

By BSM's EPIC Marketing & Communications Intern Terra Waymire-Rozman '23 

Benilde-St. Margaret’s is dedicated to preparing students for college and the workplace in whatever field they desire. Through the EPIC program (Explore, Partner, Inspire Connect), BSM students are given opportunities to explore their interests with internships and real world scenarios.

Even though it’s one of the newest internship programs at BSM, the admissions internship is already having a positive impact on the students. “I really like this internship because I get to learn more about how BSM admissions gets students to come to BSM and all the little different things that we do,” Francine Fournier ‘23 said, adding, “I also really enjoy all the cool things we get to do. We lead tours during open houses and we even got to go to TCO Vikings Training facility.”

When the internship was created in partnership with the BSM admissions, the team leaders had great aspirations for students. “The goal of this program is providing students with exposure to real-world experiences with a professional lens,” said Betsy Van Cleve ‘06, director, senior high admissions. “We are hoping that they see there are many facets of what admissions people do. Whether it be sales, marketing, or understanding how stewardship works for fundraising,” Van Cleve facilitates the admissions internship program for six BSM students. 

The admissions interns partner with Van Cleve and Ted Freese, director, junior high admissions who help coordinate professional development opportunities outside of BSM. Getting exposure to alternate professional environments is just another way that BSM prepares students for the future. 

Students began work in the admissions internship during early October to gain a foundation of knowledge in marketing and sales, skills which will be needed in many professional settings. Since then, tasks have included visits to local partner schools, sharing their experiences of life at BSM, helping at open houses, and hosting prospective students during school days. The interns love having the opportunity to talk about Benilde-St. Margaret’s mission statement around many communities, and connecting with prospective families. 

Fournier commented on her responsibilities for the internship, “We've had a couple of open houses where we lead the groups and answer questions. We also write thank you cards to guests. In addition, we brought in college [advertisements] that we received, and thought about how we can try to get people to come [to BSM] with similar advertisements.” 

“In November the interns visited TCO Performance Center stadium and met with a variety of Minnesota Vikings professionals including BSM grad Kathleen Coyle ‘03 the director of sales,” Van Cleve said. “We also met with Tatum O'Neill, Katrina Jaeger, Ashley Harris and Elizabeth Bazany representing sales, partnership activation, marketing and communications, and on-air talent for the Vikings.”

The interns enjoy communicating to the community at large about the experience of being students and friends who learn together at BSM as they prepare for life after graduation. 

BSM created the EPIC internship program in 2019 and is creating new opportunities tailored to the diversity of student interests and goals. Students who are interested in participating in EPIC can speak with Dr. Steve Pohlen, director of curriculum and learning or read about other internship opportunities at BSM.