School of Communication students gain real-world experience during summer internships Tuesday, June 5, 2012

School of Communication student Alicia Lyons is working as an intern at MTV Networks. Photo by Patty Lyons

Point Park School of Communication students are broadening their skills as they begin summer internships at a variety of media outlets and organizations. Students have the option to earn credit for a supervised, registered internship that will provide hands-on, real-world experience related to their major. Students doing internships this summer include:

• Matthew Brudnok, photojournalism, interning at Team Rubicon

• Alana Bergamasco, double majoring in broadcasting and public relations and advertising, interning with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation

• Kalea Hall, double majoring in journalism and multimedia, interning at Cox Media Group for a breaking news hybrid including WHIO and the Dayton Daily News in Dayton, Ohio

• Alicia Lyons, double majoring in broadcasting and secondary education-mass communication, interning at MTV Networks in New York City

• Sarah Mack, broadcasting, interning at WPXI

• Amber McKivigan, public relations and advertising, interning at Whirl Publishing

• Camelia Montoy, photojournalism, working on a humanitarian aid project, Pacific Partnership 2012, in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam

• Shaqueala Myrick, public relations and advertising, interning at EuroRSCG Worldwide PR

• Evan Skowron, double majoring in journalism and photojournalism, interning with the Pittsburgh Pirates

• Margaux Williamson, double majoring in journalism and mass communication, interning at Smart Futures

Williamson learned about her internship after attending an internship fair held at Point Park and received support from her academic advisor, Helen Fallon.

Hall found encouragement from faculty in the School of Communication when applying for internships. "Professor Moushey wrote a letter of recommendation which I included with my application materials. Without the skills I have gained as a student, I would not be eligible for this internship. I owe it to the education I have received for helping me move forward with my career," she said.

Bergamasco was referred to her position by a Point Park alumnus. "Tom McMillan, Penguins vice president of communications and Point Park alumnus, told me about the internship opportunity at the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. It is my job as an intern to consistently update all forms of social media and assist in reconstructing the website."

As for Lyons, working at MTV is a dream come true. "This internship has been a blessing so far. I've dreamed of working for MTV as a child. I came to Point Park as a broadcast major knowing that this is the place that would get me there and here I am."