Companies court students at 9th annual Internship Fair

From the Monarch Beverage Co. to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a wide range of businesses attempted to garner students' interests Thursday at IU's ninth-annual Internship Fair. \nInside the Indiana Memorial Union's Alumni Hall, one of the most popular desks had several beer cases and a large blow-up wine object sitting on the table. Monarch Beverage Co., which is based in Indianapolis, purchases products from suppliers and then redistributes them to restaurants, grocery stores and liquor stores, including Bloomington's Big Red Liquors.\n"The company is looking for five well-qualified people, ages 21 to 25, who are very personable and can get along with clients," said Lloyd Brown, sales trainer and recruiter for Monarch.\nClear Channel Radio, which broadcasts popular radio stations such as Q95 and X103, offers students a chance to broaden their skills in broadcasting and journalism.\n"Most people who have visited today are interested in promotions and marketing," said Maribeth Abels, public relations representative for Clear Channel. "We want someone who wants to learn and is interested in radio as a whole, not just the DJing part."\nMany students were hoping to find representatives from the CIA but were upset to find they would have to wait until next year because the government agency backed out of participating in the fair late Wednesday. However, the Career Development Center was still accepting applications for the position.\nAlthough Clear Channel was one of his last desks to visit, junior Ryan Esslinger had spent about an hour and a half looking around and attempting to find an internship.\n"One of the areas that would be an absolute area that I would intern at would be a radio station," Esslinger said. "You get into the management aspect and the public relations aspect yet you still get to work hand to hand with the DJs."\nThe Indianapolis Zoo was also another place where learning and working would take center stage. Artifacts from the zoo along with a computer presentation with photos and information were on hand to help demonstrate what the interns would do during the internship. \n"We have had mostly business-interested people drop by today," said Joel Vanderbush, manager of volunteer services at the zoo. "We hope to get about 60 people through this program today, no matter what field they are interested in."\nAlthough she is more interested in TV and the internship program Fox 59 offered, junior Sarah Hoback said she believed she would still be interested in what the zoo had to offer.\n"I'm good at speaking, so maybe the education aspect of the zoo such as the Zoo Mobile would help me out in that area," Hoback said.\nNichole Williams, planner and director of the fair, said she expected between 1,000 and 1,500 students at the event. And the attendance was on track, she said. Overall, she said the event was a success.\nTwenty companies will return to conduct follow-up interviews today in Alumni Hall. After these interviews, many students will be left hoping to get a position by the end of the week.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Ryne Shadday at rshadday@indiana.edu.