Five UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications students received internship awards to support their summer internships. Internship awards provide students with funding to help offset the cost of pursuing unpaid internships, low-paid internships or internships located in large cities.
Mallory Comley is a sophomore advertising and public relations major from Schuyler. This summer she has an internship with the Lincoln Saltdogs baseball team where she’ll primarily be working on promotions and event planning. Comley was awarded a $1,000 internship award from the Kris Malkoski Fund, which supports advertising and public relations majors pursuing unpaid or underpaid internships.
“I’ve always been interested in working in sports, and in the future I see myself working in advertising or PR somewhere in the world of sports,” Comley said. “My internship with the Lincoln Saltdogs this summer will help me decide if I should add sports media and communication to my degree as a double major.”
Victoria Baker of Papillion is a senior broadcasting major who will graduate from the CoJMC in May 2023. Baker was awarded a $2,500 internship award from the Deb Fiddelke Fund to support her copywriting internship at Ogilvy in Los Angeles. At Ogilvy, she’ll have the opportunity to work on real client projects and collaborate with members of the creative team. The Deb Fiddelke Scholarship Fund supports students pursuing unpaid or underpaid internships in the advertising and public relations field.
“While I still don't know everything about advertising, what I do know is that I was always meant to be in this space,” Baker said. “I was meant to find myself here, one way or another, and while I don't know what the future holds, I do hope that mine includes advertising and copywriting in some way.”
Junior broadcasting major Evelyn Mejia of Norfolk was awarded the Rural Journalism Fellowship internship award. This $1,000 award is given to a student with a journalism or broadcasting internship who will do 50% or more of their reporting in a rural community outside of the Lincoln and Omaha area. Mejia’s summer internship is with the Flatwater Free Press. She’ll report on a variety of statewide issues across the state with the goal of sharing the stories of traditionally underserved communities.
Junior sports media and communications major Cole Peterson of Elkhorn received the $1,000 Dana and Lynn Roper internship award. The fund supports sports media and communications students pursuing unpaid or underpaid internships. This summer Peterson is a communications intern for the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas. The season-long internship started in January. Peterson will continue to work in the Rangers public relations department assisting the team in creating and proofing their 2023 media guide.
“My hope is that this internship will help put my name out there in the professional sports world,” Peterson said. “The connections I’ll make and the experience I'll gain will be invaluable, and I’m grateful to be chosen as a recipient.”
Valeria Uribe is a junior advertising and public relations and graphic design double major from Le Mars, Iowa. She received a $1,000 award from the J. Steve Davis Jump Start Fund, which supports students pursuing advertising internships in large metropolitan markets outside of Nebraska. This summer Uribe will work in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at Fresh Produce as an account service intern at “Famous,” their student-run agency. She’ll work to maintain client relationships and keep the team organized and on budget.
“I hope that this experience will help me see if account service is something I want to continue pursuing,” Uribe said. “I have only worked with a few clients throughout my college experience, and this opportunity will allow me to elevate my soft skills and work with a variety of clients.”
