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Hillel interns find big city in their hometown
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Compiled by REBECCA STOLARSKY
Irving I. Stone Editorial Intern
A summer internship in Cleveland doesn’t exactly sound exotic. Yet 31 college students who spent their summer working (and playing) in Cleveland due to the efforts of the Cleveland Hillel Foundation Summer Internship Program discovered just how much the city has to offer.
Students were placed in nonprofit and for-profit organizations throughout Greater Cleveland area and Akron. They also attended weekly seminars with fellow interns at various locations throughout the city. In its second year, the internship program gave college students the opportunity to work in rewarding environments while exploring in depth their own hometown. In their own words, four Hillel interns share their experiences.
Rebecca Stolarsky, 19
After spending several summers as a camp counselor or working behind a cash register, I feel lucky to have gained experience in a field in which I someday hope to work. My first day at the Cleveland Jewish News as the Irving I. Stone Editorial Intern was spent writing a story that would be published in the paper that same week. I spent every day at the CJN as if I were a full-time reporter. I covered events, conducted countless interviews, and gained reporting skills I could not have learned in a classroom.
The Hillel program provided an experience to learn about Cleveland while developing professional career skills. One week I was learning e-mail etiquette and the true meaning of “business casual”; the next week I stood on the stage at the House of Blues as part of a backstage tour of East 4th St. It was exciting to see parts of Cleveland that will hopefully revive this town into a place where people young and old want to live.
Tracy Levine, 20
I spent my summer working at Envision Radio Networks in Beachwood. Envision represents various syndicated radio programs that are sold to stations across the county. I had the opportunity to touch base with some high-profile names in the radio business, and as the only other Spanish speaker in our office, I was able to hone my language skills through contact with Hispanic program directors and morning show hosts.
Building employee morale is BIG around the office! Every morning, all the employees gather for the daily “beg or brag” section, where employees can ask favors of coworkers or boast about their previous evening’s plans, and no birthday goes un-celebrated. We celebrated Envision’s “First-Annual Intern Appreciation Day,” and our boss brought the city ice-cream truck right to our office. It has been a privilege to be a part of the team this summer, and I’ll leave with a wide breadth of knowledge and new skills I’ll take with me wherever I go.
Rachel Pankiw, 20
I felt truly privileged to hear some of the speakers we had on our programming days, in particular Holocaust survivor Max Edelman. He spoke about surviving his numerous horrors and questioned why others, many of whom only have a fraction of his difficulties, simply throw in the towel.
The internship was gratifying in so many ways, with one of the more invaluable rewards being a fresh insight into people – myself included – and discovering how in the right environment, anyone can flourish.
Robert Bonhard, 20
Going into my internship at Brunswick Companies, a full-service insurance and risk management firm, I had very low expectations. I was convinced all I was going to do was run errands and perform meaningless tasks. After being with the company for nearly two months now, my expectations have been exceeded by miles.
During my time there, I worked with almost every aspect of the company. Working on various projects at different times is interesting because I have been exposed to all areas of the insurance process. I helped the marketing department brainstorm ways to improve the website, which is one of the best ways to reach out to clients. Then I worked on projects with the commercial insurance department, where I prepared cover letters and policies to be mailed to the clients. Finally, I worked with the accounting department to reconcile commissions, where I helped make sure we were making money. Without even realizing it, I learned the insurance process in a nutshell.
Irving I. Stone Editorial Intern
A summer internship in Cleveland doesn’t exactly sound exotic. Yet 31 college students who spent their summer working (and playing) in Cleveland due to the efforts of the Cleveland Hillel Foundation Summer Internship Program discovered just how much the city has to offer.
Students were placed in nonprofit and for-profit organizations throughout Greater Cleveland area and Akron. They also attended weekly seminars with fellow interns at various locations throughout the city. In its second year, the internship program gave college students the opportunity to work in rewarding environments while exploring in depth their own hometown. In their own words, four Hillel interns share their experiences.
Rebecca Stolarsky, 19
After spending several summers as a camp counselor or working behind a cash register, I feel lucky to have gained experience in a field in which I someday hope to work. My first day at the Cleveland Jewish News as the Irving I. Stone Editorial Intern was spent writing a story that would be published in the paper that same week. I spent every day at the CJN as if I were a full-time reporter. I covered events, conducted countless interviews, and gained reporting skills I could not have learned in a classroom.
The Hillel program provided an experience to learn about Cleveland while developing professional career skills. One week I was learning e-mail etiquette and the true meaning of “business casual”; the next week I stood on the stage at the House of Blues as part of a backstage tour of East 4th St. It was exciting to see parts of Cleveland that will hopefully revive this town into a place where people young and old want to live.
Tracy Levine, 20
I spent my summer working at Envision Radio Networks in Beachwood. Envision represents various syndicated radio programs that are sold to stations across the county. I had the opportunity to touch base with some high-profile names in the radio business, and as the only other Spanish speaker in our office, I was able to hone my language skills through contact with Hispanic program directors and morning show hosts.
Building employee morale is BIG around the office! Every morning, all the employees gather for the daily “beg or brag” section, where employees can ask favors of coworkers or boast about their previous evening’s plans, and no birthday goes un-celebrated. We celebrated Envision’s “First-Annual Intern Appreciation Day,” and our boss brought the city ice-cream truck right to our office. It has been a privilege to be a part of the team this summer, and I’ll leave with a wide breadth of knowledge and new skills I’ll take with me wherever I go.
Rachel Pankiw, 20
“I’ll leave with a wide breadth of knowledge and new skills.”
Tracy Levine, intern at Envision Radio Networks
I originally applied to be a Cleveland Hillel intern because I wanted to stay in the comfort of my own home. I got my wish and more when I became a marketing intern for The Mandel Jewish Community Center. Not only did I get an amazing opportunity to have “real world” experiences, but I also got an inside look into how nonprofits work and how individuals with a variety of opinions can form a cohesive, unified community. I worked with energetic children and their appreciative parents; interesting JCC members; and a team of excellent, enthusiastic personnel. If that weren’t enough, I also got into serious shape with my semi-weekly spinning classes at the J!Tracy Levine, intern at Envision Radio Networks
I felt truly privileged to hear some of the speakers we had on our programming days, in particular Holocaust survivor Max Edelman. He spoke about surviving his numerous horrors and questioned why others, many of whom only have a fraction of his difficulties, simply throw in the towel.
The internship was gratifying in so many ways, with one of the more invaluable rewards being a fresh insight into people – myself included – and discovering how in the right environment, anyone can flourish.
Robert Bonhard, 20
Going into my internship at Brunswick Companies, a full-service insurance and risk management firm, I had very low expectations. I was convinced all I was going to do was run errands and perform meaningless tasks. After being with the company for nearly two months now, my expectations have been exceeded by miles.
During my time there, I worked with almost every aspect of the company. Working on various projects at different times is interesting because I have been exposed to all areas of the insurance process. I helped the marketing department brainstorm ways to improve the website, which is one of the best ways to reach out to clients. Then I worked on projects with the commercial insurance department, where I prepared cover letters and policies to be mailed to the clients. Finally, I worked with the accounting department to reconcile commissions, where I helped make sure we were making money. Without even realizing it, I learned the insurance process in a nutshell.
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