Best of CASE District III Award
 

Institution: University of North Carolina Asheville

Title of entry: An Extension of the Classroom: Internship Program Multimedia Showcase

About this entry: The UNC Asheville Career Center launched an innovative new internship program that not only matches undergraduate students with an internship that aligns with their career goals, but is also designed to teach them insider tips and skills by pairing them with a mentor.

This storytelling piece follows four interns at two job sites, Environmental Quality Institute and Black Mountain College Museum + Art Center, both local institutions with great ties to the community and region. Through individual video and photo shoots, we sought to showcase the wide range of local opportunities available to interns through the program, even at the same job site. By tying the visual elements together alongside a story, we highlight how the program overall prepares students for future careers and exemplifies UNC Asheville’s commitment to connecting their classroom learning to community-based, hands-on experience. The overall aim was to aid the Career Center in promoting their program to students, while also providing an example to prospective students of the experiences available to them at UNC Asheville.

The photos, videos and stories have been used extensively in promoting the program on the Career Center’s website, on physical media such as signage and flyers on campus, and on social media — resulting in 27,958 views across platforms. The interns featured have even reported including their video in resume materials when applying for graduate programs and jobs as proof of their real-world experience.