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Summer Internships: Aaron Harris

Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.

Many students are participating in internships this summer. Meet:

Aaron HarrisAaron Harris

He is: a senior in Television and Digital Media Production from Lansing.

His Internship: Aaron has entered a six-month internship as the videographer for Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

What Aaron Is Learning, How He Makes A Difference: “How to market a large hotel via social media. The amount of content we produce never ceases to amaze me. I created a brand and regular video series for the hotel called ‘Straits Talk.’ It is a Q-&-A series to allow viewers on social media to come up with the topic of each episode by asking a question about Grand Hotel. The segments are hosted by our Resident Historian, Bob Tagatz. The series is a huge success and is just one of the many videos I get to work on to help promote this great hotel on Mackinac Island. Halfway through my internship, I have produced 35 videos that have already been published and shared by the Grand Hotel in some fashion. By focusing solely on videos, I help keep Sara Wright, the hotel’s marketing photographer and social media coordinator free to focus entirely on her job and not feel pressured to get out of her comfort zone.”

How Ferris Helped Aaron Secure His Internship: “The University and my internship advisor were very active in communicating with Grand Hotel and the head of marketing (now my boss) on the details and requirements of the six-month internship. They made sure all the appropriate paperwork was in place and there would be a workspace available on location.”

Future Plans: “I hope that the internship leads to opportunities to freelance local videography jobs as well as future full-time employment for this hotel’s summer season. While I would like to own my own production business someday, Grand Hotel would be a great outlet to continue to grow in my cinematography skills. It is a great place to capture stunning footage full of iconic buildings, sounds, and scenery.”

Advice For Students Seeking Internships, TDMP Majors Specifically: “Don’t be afraid to do some searching for yourself. Go above and beyond on school projects. Go to your dream job location and do a how-to video for class (It was how I got my name in at Grand Hotel and they later called me to offer the internship).”

Ferris Core Value Aaron Relates to: “Opportunity, for sure. Ferris, more than anything else, gave me just that … the opportunity to put myself out there by becoming a trained professional capable of excelling in my field, even though I’m the only “video person” in my workplace.”

MEET THE INTERNS HOMEPAGE