UNK ID Internships Pave the Way for Student Success

Mitch Peters, a UNK lecturer who comes from a long line of Lopers, knows that the school’s Industrial Distribution (ID) program “prepares students for in-demand careers in technical sales and leadership positions across the industrial manufacturing and wholesale distribution industries.” As someone with many years of experience in the industry prior to pursuing teaching, he explains how the university’s ID program has “developed close relationships” with “industry leaders across all sectors.” This relationship piece is intentional and the reason students are set up for success thanks to instructors like Peters. Their goal is to ensure that the “curriculum is always up to date” so graduates can “enter the workforce ready to tackle the industry’s newest challenges.”

Building relationships is something UNK’s College of Business and Technology has always been known for. In fact, for transfer student Spencer Willnerd, it only took one discussion with Mitch Peters to have him immediately wanting to be part of the ID program. He shares how, because of that conversation, he “switched (his) major that day.” 

When Willnerd was introduced to UNK through a college fair at his high school in Missouri, he visited many different booths. He shares how he saw UNK’s booth and thought that it seemed like a perfect fit for him. Even though it was the college fair that got Willnerd on UNK’s campus, he admits it was his conversation with Peters, which happened within days of attending his first classes on campus, that got him into the ID program. He appreciates how he has been able to get the most out of his time as a college student. Peters agrees, stating that “Spencer has really taken the bull by the horns” as he has “taken advantage of all the opportunities UNK and Industrial Distribution provides to further expand his professional network, refine his skills, and ensure a fruitful career after graduation.”

One of these opportunities was Willnerd’s recent internship with Rensenhouse. This business, which is an important part of the manufacturing industry, is where Willnerd plans to work when he graduates from college. His internship, a 10-week adventure where he learned how to apply the lessons he learned in class, was an overwhelming success. He credits his ID classes for preparing him and helping him understand how he will use “every single tool” he learns in class when he is in the real world of his profession.

Preparing students for that real world is the goal of ID instructors Dr. Ben Brachle, Alejandro Cahis, and Mitch Peters. In addition to their engaging classes, they create a real-world atmosphere by taking students to visit distributors in the area, many of whom are CBT Program Partners. Willnerd explains how he has learned that ID is “so much more than (he) thought it was” thanks to his encounters with current leaders in the ID profession. This type of learning is why, as an intern, he was able “every single day” to make a “connection from class to (his) internship.”

Willnerd is not the only UNK student to excel thanks to the ID department’s internship program. Fellow transfer student Layne Hudson made the decision to add ID as a second major which resulted in an internship with an international component. Through her work with North American Plastics, Hudson was able to spend several weeks abroad. She worked in the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, England, and Germany. She shares that she not only built relationships during this time but was able to bring what she had learned in class to life as she traveled on behalf of her company. A highlight of her internship came after she was back on the campus of UNK. She was able to present her internship experience to a group of students that included her brother who is also majoring in ID. 

Hudson, who will be graduating in May, feels that her major in psychology will be the perfect accompaniment to her ID major. She believes what she has learned in her psychology classes “gives (her) a better understanding of people.” These skills, coupled with what she has learned in her ID classes as well as through her training and experience as an intern, will contribute to her success in the future. She shares that her time as a student at UNK has been wonderful thanks to her professors. When reflecting on her time when she trained in Dallas before going overseas to work, she is grateful that there was “never a time when (she) felt like (she) was unprepared” for her internship. 

Both Willnerd and Hudson feel ready for what their future holds. Willnerd plans to work for Resenhouse where he found that everyone was “very open” and “willing to help.” He appreciates their “great company structure” and is looking forward to being part of their team when he graduates in May.  Hudson is unsure of her immediate future but admits she has many options thanks to her successful transfer experience to UNK.

Mitch Peters understands the need to reach all students, including those like Willnerd and Hudson who transfer instead of stepping foot on UNK’s campus as freshmen. He is excited that the ID program offers two ID-specific career events each year. One is held in October with the other is offered in February. Through the diligent work of the ID department, there are 30-35 companies who attend each event. There is always a networking social hour and banquet held the night before which is a perfect time for students to meet those who represent what their future holds. The next day there is a 3-hour career fair which includes interviews. Interested students can learn more by visiting the career event page on UNK’s ID department’s web page.