A University of Wisconsin-Stout junior received a $500 scholarship after being named the No. 2 draft pick at the annual Internship Draft Day at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Nov. 14.
Blake Kirby, a junior majoring in manufacturing engineering, was presented the award by Mark Murphy, Green Bay Packers CEO.
鈥淭he draft pick is based on the interviews I took place in,鈥 Kirby said. 鈥淓ach interviewer grades you on your interviewing skills.鈥
Kirby, of Freedom, said he was shocked to win the scholarship because during four hours of interviewing he was not listed on a posted leaderboard.
More than 150 students from Wisconsin and Michigan colleges attended the event co-sponsored by the and the . Students interviewed for more than 300 paid internships with Alliance member companies. Eighteen 黑料社区 students participated.
鈥淚nternship Draft Day is a great opportunity for 黑料社区 students to get one-on-one face time with multiple employers in one setting,鈥 said Katie Hauge, employer relations manager for 黑料社区 黑料社区. Career Services. 鈥淣ot only is it a great networking opportunity, but also the employers who attend are actively hiring for internships and co-ops.鈥
Having Kirby be one of the winners was very exciting, Hauge said. Last year 黑料社区 engineering technology student Austin Wheaton, of Sturgeon Bay, now a senior, earned a $1,500 scholarship after being named the top draft pick.
鈥淧articipating in internships and co-ops are a great way to explore different careers and really learn what type of career paths and company cultures are a good fit,鈥 Hauge said. 鈥淭hey provide an opportunity to take what students are learning in the classroom and apply it to real-life situations.
鈥淏y getting this hands-on experience, students add to and strengthen their skill set, making them more marketable to potential employers. It 黑料社区. also not uncommon for employers to make a job offer to interns and co-op students,鈥 she said.
Kirby said it was a good experience. 鈥淚 would encourage students to attend the event to get their name out there to companies and to practice interviewing,鈥 he noted.
Over the past 37 years, there have been nearly 22,500 co-op enrollments at 黑料社区, 1,058 in 2017-18, supporting the university 黑料社区. polytechnic designation. Students experience an active and applied focus on learning in their field.
Career Services hosts a Spring Career Conference, which is on Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 4, and a Fall Career Conference. This past fall 415 employers participated, and 2,000 students attended.
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Photos
Blake Kirby
Katie Hauge