More interns tell what brought them to FD and Webster County
PATRICK HANCOCK
Hometown: Fort Dodge
School: Iowa State University
Major: Forestry
Company: Fort Dodge Parks and Recreation
Position: Forestry intern
Why did you choose your field of study?
Forestry was the first major that peaked my interest. It felt like it was the perfect fit for me coming out of high school because of all the time I had spent outdoors throughout the years.
Why did you choose the company you are interning for?
I chose this company because I am familiar with the town and people, and it is a great learning opportunity for me to start my career.
What do you like most about the company you are working for?
The thing I like the most about this company is the different projects and people I can be involved with, which bolsters my experience.
What do you hope to get out of your internship?
I hope to have an even clearer idea on what direction I would like to go into in my field of study.
What are your overall career goals?
I want to find the perfect occupation in Forestry for myself. This will require trying different things and testing the waters in this field. I hope to find that perfect fit and be the best I can be in that job.
What are you looking forward to the most with the Internship+ Program?
I am looking forward to meeting with other interns in this town to hear what others are doing in their fields.
What do you like about Fort Dodge?
This is the place where I grew up. I know the people and the places and it has a lasting impact on my life for those reasons. Though my immediate family moved to Omaha, I enjoy the opportunity to come back to this community, even if it is for a short time.
What hobbies do you enjoy on your free time? Some of my hobbies include fishing, basketball, tennis, and ice hockey. I love being outdoors and enjoying nature.
EMILY JOHNSON
Hometown: Fort Dodge
School: Creighton University
Major: Chemistry
Company: Fort Dodge Convention and Visitors
Bureau
Position: Intern
Why did you choose your field of study?
Throughout my first two years of college, as I tried a variety of sciences, chemistry seemed to be the one that was most challenging, yet still interesting.
Why did you choose the company you are interning for?
I had previously worked with Kerrie (Kuiper) in February and her overall positivity was contagious. When she offered me the job I thought this would be the best opportunity to try work in a place that required me to do tasks that I wouldn’t typically do.
What do you like most about the company you are working for?
My favorite thing about this company is the overall environment. It contains friendliness and helpfulness as well. The building is composed of quite a few different offices and so many people were available to answer my questions during my first week here.
What do you hope to get out of your internship?
I hope to further develop and broaden my skills and strengthen my connections with those in the city.
What are your overall career goals?
The sciences and helping others have been passions of mine for as long as I can remember. The best way to integrate these two passions is through the medical field. After a lot of shadowing and self-searching I decided to pursue dental school to eventually become an orthodontist.
What are you looking forward to the most with the Internship+ Program?
I am excited to connect with other interns in this area.
What do you like about Fort Dodge?
My favorite thing about Fort Dodge is that it allowed me to grow up just a couple blocks away from both sets of my grandparents. That helped me understand how important family is.
What hobbies do you enjoy on your free time?
Reading, watching Netflix, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
ROSS DEWERFF
Hometown: Storm Lake
School: University of Northern Iowa
Major: Marketing management
Company: Woodruff Construction LLC
Position: Marketing intern
Why did you choose your field of study?
I chose my field of study because I wanted to be in the business college at UNI, and I felt that I would be best fit for marketing management.
Why did you choose the company you are interning for?
I chose Woodruff Construction because it is close to home and they had an opening for a marketing intern, so I took the opportunity.
What do you like most about the company you are working for?
I like that Woodruff treats their clients and employees right, and have strong family values.
What do you hope to get out of your internship?
I hope to get a professional experience, and learn to market the Woodruff brand to the best of my ability.
What are your overall career goals?
My overall career goal is to work for a marketing agency.
What are you looking forward to the most with the Internship+ Program?
I’m looking forward to hearing about people’s experiences with their internships.
What do you like about Fort Dodge?
I like that Fort Dodge is a friendly and growing community.
What hobbies do you enjoy on your free time?
I enjoy playing tennis with my brother, watching sports events, and being on the lake.