Roar magazine Vol 7 / Hansen interns

DANE G. HANSEN

INTERNSHIP A BENEFIT TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT

espite being a Hays non-profit organization for more than 30 years, many people are unaware of the various services offered by First Call for Help. According to Linda Mills, the longtime executive director who recently retired, First Call for Help needed assistance reinvigorating its brand to enhance the recognition of the aid they offer to low-income families.

Those services include First Step Housing, Meals on Wheels, Backpacks for Kids, direct client assistance, and gasoline purchase assistance for transients. These types of services were important to Israel Paz, whose family once faced financial difficulties and relied on community assistance to make ends meet.

Israel, FHSU senior marketing major, was fortunate to be selected for the FHSU/Dane G. Hansen internship program, serving as an intern for First Call for Help.

He saw the internship as a way to give back and use his skills to increase awareness of the organization.

The FHSU/Dane G. Hansen internship program began nine years ago as part of the grant proposal to create the FHSU Management Development Center. This program produced five internships in the first year, connecting western Kansas businesses with FHSU students.

Now nine years later, more than 160 connections have been made, striving to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel as leaders in their respective careers and instilling a sense of purpose and appreciation for the unique lifestyle and opportunities of living and working in northwest Kansas.

BY : JANETTE MEIS PHOTOS BY : BRANDON COOLEY

FHSU senior pays it forward with internship at First Call for Help

According to the Job Outlook Survey 2022 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers rank internship experience as the most influential of 12 factors when selecting new employees from the field of equally qualified recent graduates.

At FHSU, the importance of quality internships is acknowledged and valued. Many academic programs now require internships or other forms of experiential learning as key elements in their degree program requirements. These opportunities impart valuable skills and help students build personal and professional networks to aid their future careers.

First Call for Help is one of many businesses and organizations that have taken advantage of an opportunity to employ an FHSU intern. Linda knew the agency would benefit from a brand makeover, but after researching the costs of working with an advertising agency, she initially thought the change they needed would be out of reach.

So, she explored other options, including partnering with the FHSU/Dane G. Hansen internship program.

The selection of interns is a competitive process for businesses and students. Only 25 internships are created annually, 10 in the spring and 15 in the summer. The first step in the process is the selection of business partners. Students submit their internship application materials on Handshake, an online career platform. The business partners then choose the students they want to interview, on campus or online.

"It is important that we provide a real-world experience not only during the internship but also during the application and interview process," said Lisa Karlin, internship career advisor at FHSU Career Services. "This may be the student's first time interviewing, so we want the business to treat the student just as they would a prospective employee."

The duration of each internship varies depending on whether it is during the spring or summer, but they typically range from 240 to 300 hours. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation allows business partners to participate by funding most of the costs, with the business making a small contribution of $500.

For First Call for Help, the assistance from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation was extremely valuable. However, the time commitment was a concern.

"I didn't know if I would have enough time to make it a valuable experience for an intern," Linda said. But, after some discussion with Lisa Karlin, Linda decided to apply. First Call for Help was chosen as an internship partner, and a job description was posted for an intern to lead and guide the organization's marketing efforts. Five students were interviewed for the position, and Israel Paz, a senior marking major from Wichita, was selected.

Linda Mills and Israel Paz

Israel first learned about the FHSU/Dane G. Hansen internship program from Professor Dr. Mary Martin. In class, Martin encouraged students to participate in internships to gain real-world experience.

"There is a huge need for marketing services in smaller businesses," Martin said. "They can't do everything their business needs and keep up with the changes in social media platforms." With a bit of prodding, Israel decided to explore the internship option. It was then that he discovered First Call for Help.

Israel started his internship in January 2023. After touring the facility and learning more about the agency's services, he met with the staff to identify their needs and discuss the overall development of a brand strategy. Three key initiatives were identified: the design of a new and modern logo, updates to the website, and an increase in the organization's social media presence. Israel was concerned that he might not know how to start the process. However, with the support of the staff, his professors, and classmates, he quickly transitioned into his new role.

Israel went to work devising a marketing plan and meeting weekly with Linda to discuss his progress. To better understand First Call for Help's mission, Israel attended staff meetings and helped with small projects. He presented and explained the marketing plan at the January board meeting. He came away from the meeting with valuable insight into the decisionmaking process.

"It was important to give Israel opportunities to learn, grow, and interact with others during his internship," Linda said.

Before Israel's involvement, the social media efforts of First Call for Help were primarily informative and failed to attract a large audience. Israel utilized social media to promote dialogue regarding the issue of school lunch debt, successfully connecting it to other community issues and boosting engagement with First Call for Help's social media platforms.

The staff learned about various social media data points through Israel's guidance, including reach, likes, and interactions. They also learned how to leverage social media to enhance the impact of their work.

Israel discovered that creating a new logo was the most challenging part of the marketing plan. The existing logo featured an outdated telephone, an image that does not reflect modern life. Thus, the new logo should graphically depict the term "a call" to promote immediate recognition. Knowing that graphic design was outside his wheelhouse, he contacted graphic design graduate student, Thomas Giebler, to collaborate on the new logo. They worked together, experimenting with various fonts and colors while considering feedback from the staff, eventually settling on a design the staff felt would dynamically and accurately represent the work of First Call for Help.

"Linda gave great feedback. It meant a lot to hear from someone who has been in this field for 25 years. I feel lucky to have worked with her," Israel said.

The internship program brings together students and businesses, benefiting both in many ways. It's a learning experience for all involved.

"It was great having an intern, but it was important to me that he had a good experience," Linda said. Israel agreed. Through his internship, he gained insight into how communities address their needs, honed his skills, and ignited his passion for marketing. "I felt like I was part of something really special," Israel said.

Going from a student to a professional can be daunting, but this new graduate now feels better equipped for the transition. "It's almost like I've already had my first day," Israel shared.

In May, Israel started his new job with Summit Media in Wichita as an account executive.

"It's already evident that everything I learned during my time at FHSU and as an intern with First Call for Help was of great benefit to me," Israel said.

"I felt like I was part of something really special."