Every summer State and Federal interns participate in Intern Edge, a program offered by Torchbearers and Leadership Akron. This program introduces the interns to established leaders, organizations, and groups that are making an impact in our community.

The company invests time and money to aide interns in their process of becoming community leaders and career professionals. It is important for interns to network and make connections with other young adults who are on similar paths.

During our second session, Katelynn Chilson and I joined other Intern Edge participants and raced through downtown Akron on a scavenger hunt. We were required to take as many pictures as possible in front of downtown’s most well-known spots. In order to receive credits for our finds, we had to post our pictures to our social media accounts.

This session gave us an opportunity to see some of downtown Akron’s thriving businesses and to see what downtown had to offer. It also taught us the importance of plugging in and posting to social media sites to reach larger audiences. The photos of us downtown show us learning about and connecting with the community in which we work. Search the hashtags #LAEdge2017 , #Cavs, and #CamoJama on Twitter or Instagram to see more photos of us enjoying downtown Akron.

The 2016 summer internship program for State and Federal Communications has come to a close. Take a look at what the interns thought of their time working for the company in this farewell tribute.

Elysabethe Anderson is an art history and visual communications & design major at Kent State University, with an expected graduation date of May 2017. Her hobbies include cycling, gardening, cooking, reading, and adventure.

Elysabethe was an exchange student in the Czech Republic for a year while in high school. One of the most memorable moments on that trip was when she took the train into Prague to visit the Natural History Museum in Saint Wenceslas Square.

After her graduation from Kent State University, Elysabethe plans on taking a year off from higher education before returning to pursue a master’s in printmaking at the Chicago Institute of Art. She would then like to move to Telluride, Colorado to study bookbinding and preservation at the American Academy of Bookbinding. She aspires to open a bookstore and illustrate children’s books

Elysabethe would describe herself as an “extroverted introvert” and values honesty, patience, and curiosity.

This summer, Elysabethe wants to drive to Pennsylvania to camp in the mountains, take a trip to a star preserve to sleep, star gaze, and read, to visit Canada, and to attend as many concerts as possible.

“If of thou fortune be bereft,

And in thy store two loaves are left.

Sell one, and with the dole,

Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.”

Untitled, John Greenleaf Whittier

“Cause when your pockets line with dollar bills, your heart forgets to eat.”

City in a Bottle, Shakey Graves

State and Federal Communications was pleased to welcome Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan as he shared career advice and his goals for the city of Akron with the interns and employees.

“I want to start from the core up and bring people into Akron,” Mayor Horrigan said. “Downtown Akron is a huge focus for the growth of the city because of the amount of traffic that it brings in.”

More than 60,000 people move throughout downtown Akron on a daily basis and Mayor Horrigan addressed what’s next after the city’s Innerbelt highway (State Route 59) closes, how to make traffic run smoothly, and issues concerning the city’s combined sewer flow problem.

“I am concentrating on giving quality customer service to the Akron community and giving them a transparent and open-government,” Horrigan said. “We’ll have over 30 acres of land to use after the Innerbelt is closed and we are constantly considering ways to fill the space.”

State and Federal Communication’s eight summer interns attend either Kent State University or The University of Akron and Mayor Horrigan earned degrees from both universities.

“When I talk to interns, I always let them know that what you are striving for is hard work,” Mayor Horrigan said. “You will have to learn from the ground up because you don’t just fall into an amazing position.”

IT intern, Chris Jackson 24, has lived in Akron all of his life and jumped on the opportunity to suggest ways that Mayor Horrigan could fill space in downtown Akron.

“There is little to no place for teens to go and have fun in downtown Akron,” Jackson said. “I’m a gamer and arcades are coming back into style and could be a great thing for the city of Akron.”

Among other suggestions the interns and employees offered were to have food trucks throughout the city, especially near Summit St. and more art work in downtown Akron.

One thing marketing intern Clémence Besnard took away during Mayor Horrigan’s conversation was his views on success.

“I liked when he suggested that we take responsibility for the decisions we’ve made and being able to sleep peacefully with those decisions is what’s important,” Besnard said. “The mayor also let us know that it is okay to pat yourself on the back and celebrate the good you’ve done when talking about success.”

Olivia Snyder is a civil engineering major attending at the University of Akron. When asked why she chose that major, she said: “I always wanted to build something. I wanted to be able to point to something and say, ‘I built this!’”

Olivia enjoys singing, playing the piano, and has too many nicknames to count. She recently moved out on her own, which has proved to be a major adjustment. This has meant seeking independence, effectively managing money, developing connections, and finding a balance between passion and realism. She values integrity, determination, and logic.

After her graduation, Olivia hopes to find a job at an engineering company. She doesn’t feel she will be done with school yet, though. She may pursue studies in finance, and eventually, music.

Today, we are celebrating Olivia’s birthday with doughnuts in the lunch room! This summer, she is going on vacation to New Jersey, and she will be moving to an apartment with a close friend.

Favorite quote: “A positive attitude may not solve all of your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” -Herm Albright

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it’s dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas Edison

Chris Jackson is a student at the University of Akron studying communication systems. His hobbies include fitness, playing and making video games, and music.

This internship symbolizes a new beginning for Chris, a gateway to success and the beginning of a new path. He is pursuing it with vigor! His future plans include building and owning an arcade and learning a new language.

Chris considers himself to be a creative person who is full of life and values humor, strength, creativity, wisdom, and respect and love for others and self. This summer, his plan is to learn how to read music and play piano.

Something his brother told him has stuck with him: “If not? Why not. Whatever it takes.”

Here is another favorite quote: “Cowards die many times before their deaths” -Julius Caesar

Zack Koozer attends Kent State University part-time and has yet to declare a major. His hobbies include playing video games, sketching, and hanging out with friends. He also tends to talk with his hands.

Although he has not quite decided what he wants to do with his life, he wants to be the person that people look at and say, “I want to be like him.” He would describe himself as a balance between whimsical and serious; he is protective of those close to him. Moreover, he values tolerance and open-minded people.

This summer, he plans on taking part in a Dungeons and Dragons campaign with a group of friends and visiting with a friend and his godparents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

He prefers cold beverages to hot beverages, and his Hogwarts house is Hufflepuff.

“Every person you encounter, whether for a minute or an hour, for a day or a year never really leaves you. They leave an imprint on you and help build who you are.” -Some wise guy

Sophia Avouris is a sophomore at Kent State University majoring in political science with a minor in public relations. She expects to graduate in the spring of 2019.  She enjoys playing quidditch.

Sophia has always been interested in political campaigns. Her first serious campaign was for Lou Gentile in 2010; he was running for a seat in the Ohio state House of Representatives. When he won, her passion for campaigning grew. It inspired her to go into political science and work in Washington, D.C. towards a career that would allow her to expand her political horizons and travel.

Sophia considers herself a quick learner, intelligent, and a good listener, which are all good traits to have in the political world. She believes humor and trustworthiness are important in any relationship, professional or personal. Because her family moves a lot, she thinks it is important to find stability in other social structures.

This summer, Sophia and her family are going camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan. She plans on visiting a friend in Minnesota, and also eagerly anticipates seeing another friend who makes the best pizza in the world.

Out of all the technology and appliances that she uses, Sophia believes her laptop is the most essential. Her personal motto is: don’t forget to take a little time to laugh a little.

Tony Didion is a senior at Kent State University majoring in public relations and minoring in marketing. He will graduate in August of this year after his internship at State and Federal Communications. His hobbies include golf, canoeing, hiking, and anything outdoors.

When Tony went to Florence, Italy, to study abroad, he realized that the people there are full of joy and enjoy the little things in life. He found that enjoying life should come first and values positivity and living in the moment.

After he graduates, he wants to work in a public relations agency and eventually move to Florence. This fall he’s going to Maui, Hawaii, for a few weeks to visit with a friend. Later, he will be going to San Francisco for a week to attend his cousin’s wedding.

He likes to drink his coffee black and firmly believes that everything happens for a reason.

Clémence Besnard is a French exchange student who has been attending the University of Akron since January 2015. She is working on her master of science in international marketing at the ESC Rennes School of Business. Some of her hobbies include painting, other artistic pursuits, and swimming.

When she arrived in the United States, it was a difficult adjustment because it was the first time she had left her family for a long period of time and gone somewhere unfamiliar. She had to adapt to the American culture and to balance work and school. This opportunity to study abroad has proven itself to be a positive experience and it has made her more independent and confident in her ability to adjust. In her opinion, positivity, motivation, determination, open-mindedness, and trustworthiness are paramount to having a beneficial professional experience abroad.

In addition to her education, she would like go on a humanitarian mission to raise funds and provide education for all people, particularly those who are discriminated against. After she receives her master’s degree, she wants to find a job that would allow her to travel abroad.

Before she leaves America, Clémence wants to travel to various cities such as Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, DC, and to explore the West Coast.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Brittany Anderson is a public relations major with a minor in marketing at Kent State University. She plans on graduating in December 2016.

Brittany has been through many obstacles that have defined her life and epitomize the person she is today. In 2011, when her mother passed away unexpectedly from surgery complications, finding motivation to finish high school was very difficult. She pushed through despite her lack of motivation and maintained the drive to continue and stay grounded for her family.

When she graduates, Brittany wants to work as an executive director of media relations who specializes in crisis communications. If she takes a different route in the public relations field, she would love to work as a commercialization manager in the food industry where she would develop project plans, design, and product performance. Brittany also wants to further her professional network and eventually move out of the state with her sister. She considers herself creative, driven, and motivated. She values positivity, loyalty, and patience. She strives to be fearless without being reckless.

This summer, she is taking classes at Kent State University and interning here at State and Federal Communications.

She enjoys a fast-paced environment that allows her to exhibit her skills under pressure and enjoys to blog about eyebrows in her spare time.

“Know your worth.” -Brittany Anderson

We are welcoming eight interns for our summer internship program here at State and Federal Communications! The program is designed to help college students learn more about government relations compliance and leadership and to help hone and showcase some of the skills they are learning within their respective college programs. It is also a paid internship, where they will be able to make money while they widen their horizons.

This summer, we have Tony Didion, who is graduating after this internship from Kent State University with a degree in public relations and a minor in marketing; Brittany Anderson, who is graduating this December from Kent State University with a degree in public relations and a minor in marketing; Clémence Besnard, an exchange student from France studying at the University of Akron is working on her master of science in international marketing at the ESC Rennes School of Business; Chris Jackson is a part-time student at the University of Akron working on his communication systems degree; Olivia Snyder a part-time student at the University of Akron pursuing civil engineering; Elysabethe Anderson, who is studying art history and visual communications and design at Kent State University; Sophia Avouris, a sophomore at Kent State University studying political science with a minor in public relations; and Zack Koozer who is attending part-time at Kent State University.

In addition to the projects they will be working on here at the office, our interns will be attending professional development programs, luncheons, and events, such as those held by Akron PSRA, Akron Roundtable, Intern Edge, the United Way of Summit County, and more. Stay tuned for more updates about this summer, and most importantly, let’s welcome these eight interns into the State and Federal Communications family!