February 11, 2005
Employers can TAP into Purdue summer interns
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A newly recruited crop of interns from Purdue University's Technical Assistance Program is waiting to be connected with Indiana employers looking for summer assistance.
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Most intern recruiting takes place between now and April 15. Employers can begin the intern recruiting process by contacting TAP staff at (765) 494-6258, intern@purdue.edu. The pool of available students shrinks as the semester progresses, so TAP recommends employers get an early start.
TAP helps schedule students for interviews. Once a match is made, students and employers negotiate salaries. Interns will be available for work May 9 through Aug. 19.
TAP director David McKinnis said that since 1988, 855 undergraduate and graduate engineering, technology and management students have worked for 500 Hoosier employers through the intern program. McKinnis said Indiana businesses benefit in several cost-effective ways.
"The TAP summer intern program helps Indiana companies find well-qualified interns without getting bogged down in the recruiting and hiring process," McKinnis said. "Interns also can provide new insights into company processes that result in major improvements. Plus, many employers use the summer intern program to find prospective full-time employees."
Because of their diverse backgrounds, students can help in areas such as product development, computer-aided design, Web site development, plant layout, software selection, construction inspection and surveying, computer programming, and production process improvement. In addition, the intern program provides access to Purdue's faculty expertise for both the students and employers.
Peter Thawnghmung, technical systems manager for Hill's Pet Nutrition in Richmond, Ind., said intern Tiffany Spann, an electrical engineering technology major from East Chicago, Ind., successfully completed several projects.
"During her internship with Hill's Pet Nutrition, Tiffany developed programs for a packaging palletizer and dehumidifier sensors; created a total energy motor log in Excel; developed an equipment database in Access; and created process picture maps for a variety of equipment," Thawnghmung said. "Tiffany also assisted the plant technical system team in delivering several plant improvement projects in the areas of process controls, document controls and in the development of training materials. She was a team player and fit well in the plant culture."
Spann said she gained valuable experience at Hill's Pet Nutrition.
"During my internship, I learned that it takes more than just engineering to make a successful product," Spann said.
Daniel Parrott, an IUPUI computer and information technology major from Brownsburg, Ind., worked as a computer support specialist at Aircom Manufacturing in Indianapolis. Jon Hall, Parrott's supervisor, said Parrott's work was so highly regarded that Parrott continues to work for their company.
"Danny has been very reliable, punctual and quickly learns new tasks," Hall said. "He interacts effectively with other employees while performing his duties and requires little supervision. His computer skills are excellent."
Hall said he would recommend TAP's summer intern program to any employer.
"I liked the summer intern program because Purdue's staff helped screen potential interns so our company was able to hire a suitably skilled employee quickly and easily," Hall said.
In addition to the intern program, TAP provides year-round assistance to help Indiana businesses, industries and government organizations implement new and advanced technologies and boost the state's economy. TAP has served more than 4,500 companies during the past 19 years. According to the companies with which it has partnered, TAP has saved or added more than 4,100 jobs in Indiana.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Sources: David McKinnis (765) 494-9189, mckinnis@purdue.edu
Peter Thawnghmung (765)935-7071
Tiffany Spann, (219) 616-3859
John Hall, (317) 547-3640, jhall@medivative.com
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Daniel Parrott, (center) an IUPUI computer and information technology major from Brownsburg, Ind., consults with Ed Sullivan (at left), clinical assistant professor of computer and information technology at IUPUI, and Jon Hall, information systems manager for Aircom Manufacturing in Indianapolis. Parrott completed an internship last summer as a computer support specialist for Aircom. The internship was arranged through Purdue's Technical Assistance Program, which is currently assisting companies with recruiting interns for work this summer. (Division of Instructional Services photo/John Underwood.)
A publication-quality photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2005/parrott-interns.jpg
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