Over the summer, Ursuline students who participated in the Summer Student Internship Program had the opportunity to gain real-world work experience in a variety of industries. From meticulous design work on a dress for the 2024 Texas Rose Festival to decoding the complicated utility line system for the City of Dallas, Ursuline students gained valuable experience that will equip them with practical skills and insights, helping them succeed in their future careers.

Four students share their experiences and lessons from the 2024 Summer Student Internship Program.

Annabelle G. ’25 says her work with L&A Showroom, a wholesale fashion company at the Dallas Market Center, provided her with helpful context as she considers a college major. The practical experience – organizing and preparing the showroom for market each week – combined with business operations and sales experience gave her a holistic understanding of what it takes to run a small business. Annabelle encourages students to take advantage of the internship program. “Internships provide a unique glimpse into the professional world, offering invaluable experience that can help guide your future academic and career choices,” she said.

Audrey F. ’25 matched with an opportunity that was not originally aligned with her area of interest but proved invaluable. Audrey spent two weeks with Dallas County Public Works, which focuses on supporting regionally significant transportation projects in partnership with other city transportation groups and county commissioners. Audrey’s dedication and hard work were praised by her internship supervisor, Jurmerline (Jay) Walker-Randle, Finance & Contracts Coordinator for Dallas County Public Works. “We appreciate your efforts in successfully completing assigned projects and tasks. Your attention to detail with identifying utility lines was impressive, especially by the Assistant Director (Les). Thank you for your positive attitude and collaboration with the team. Your ability to work well with others and contribute to our success has been greatly appreciated.”

After working on a highly detailed dress for Nicolas Villalba Couture that will be featured in the 2024 Texas Rose Festival, “Be prepared to work hard and follow directions,” is the advice that Dylan W. ’25 shares with those interested in a summer internship. She had never considered how the lesser-known behind-the-scenes aspects of a job contribute to the larger picture.

During her internship with Taylored Nutrition, a pediatric sports nutrition company, Amanda R. ’25 created nutrition sheets and recipes for clients. She made easy-to-read reference sheets that outlined foods rich in calcium and iron, which are essential for athletes. “I had free reign to create recipes that would benefit athletes, like carb-filled smoothies, which are a good pre-workout snack to optimize performance, and meals that athletes could make in bulk in preparation for the week.” Amanda learned the importance of customizing meal plans based on athletes’ needs; no two athletes are the same and factors like age and their family makeup were important considerations when creating meal plans. Amanda’s advice for those interested in a summer internship is to choose something you love since you will be spending a lot of time there in the summer. “Also, reach out early and communicate with your mentor.”

Juniors interested in the Summer Student Internship Program for summer 2025 should reach out to UA Internship Coordinator Jenn Wilson.