2012 Intern Employers of the Year announced

The University of Southern Indiana's Office of Career Services and Placement has announced its 2012 Intern Employers of the Year: SABIC Innovative Plastics and Evansville Icemen in the business/industry category, and the Evansville Police Department and YMCA in the government/nonprofit category.

SABIC, of Mount Vernon, Indiana was nominated by two students from different academic majors working in two separate areas of the facility:  seniors Andrew Frazee, a chemistry major, and Travis Brooks, an economics major. Evansville Icemen, a minor league ice hockey team, was nominated by Lance McCarty, a senior public relations major.

The YMCA was nominated by Kyle Collins, a December 2012 graduate with a degree in health services. The Evansville Police Department was nominated by Drew Murray, a senior criminal justice major, and Dane VanWinkle, a senior business administration major.

"Internships and cooperative education are vital in preparing students for successful careers and again we are pleased to recognize those employers who provide these valuable experiences to USI students," said Philip Parker, director of Career Services and Placement. "Our interns have worked in a range of businesses of all sizes and industries, in numerous government departments, and in non-profit agencies.  It is always a difficult task to select the annual recipients of the awards from among the numerous employers that are so deserving of the recognition."

Employers eligible for the 2012 award were those who hosted a USI student for an internship between August 31, 2011 and September 1, 2012. The students nominated internship providers based on quality of the internship experience; how they were assisted in meeting learning objectives; mentoring that was provided; opportunities for learning and leadership; and how the employer generally sought to support the philosophy of internships for college students.

Over the past decade alone, more than 1,000 employers - including businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies - have provided internship opportunities for USI students.

The 2011 recipients were GAF Materials of Mount Vernon and Whispering Pines Health Care Center of Valparaiso, Indiana.