Since the launch of the Scott Internship Program in 2021, 68 Whittier students have benefited from professional, paid internships on campus. Soon, students will have the same opportunity for career development off campus with local organizations.
Seventeen internship opportunities will be available during the 2024-25 academic year, with spots for 20 students.
Access to these kinds of hands-on experiences is one of the reasons Geraldine Serna ’23 came to Whittier. Originally from Cali, Colombia, the business administration major transferred to Whittier to improve her English, learn about new cultures, and finish her degree.
Initially drawn to international business and customer management in Colombia, she decided to expand her horizons to business administration and marketing when relocating to the Los Angeles area. It was Whittier’s tight-knit community feeling that convinced her to apply.
“I just love the creativity side of things and being behind the scenes, working on all the ways that you can present something to attract people to your company, to your product, or to your service,” said Serna. “I have a passion for project management, planning, and customer service.”
During her time at Whittier, Serna worked as a programming and project coordinator and international student coordinator, among other roles. She gained valuable knowledge during her Fellowship on the High Seas, and was a Scott Intern twice — first as a marketing analytics intern for the 2021-22 academic year and then again as a public relations coordinator for 2022-23. She discovered the internships through the Career Center.
“We tracked all the insights about the Whittier College website, like how many times they visited the page, and we came up with ways to make it more attractive for students,” Serna said.
Serna highly recommends Poets apply for the Scott Internships, especially international students who may have difficulty finding work study or other jobs due to visa challenges. Though she graduated in December, Serna remained close to her Whittier peers and became the interim associate director of the Office of Student Engagement.
“Because of the opportunities of working on campus with the Scott Internship, my community got so big,” Serna said. “Coming from another country and culture yet having an impact in the United States was powerful.”
To apply for a Scott Internship, visit Whittier College’s Handshake page.
Have a good story idea? Share it with us.
