Student Interns with Girl Scouts, Meets Local Newscaster

Gwen Smith, ’11, English major, has a commitment to non-profit work. She sought an internship that would give her an inside perspective on both the day-to-day workings and the strategic planning of a non-profit organization. She found it with the Girl Scouts of South Carolina in the spring semester of 2011.

During her ten months at the Girl Scouts offices in Greenville and Spartanburg, Gwen attended planning meetings, wrote press releases, contacted local media, helped run after-school programs, and recruited volunteers. This last task brought her out into the Spartanburg and Greenville communities, meeting community members and drawing connections between their unique passions and experience with the needs of the Council. She even had the opportunity to meet John Cessarich of Channel 4 News.

Gwen believes that her time at Converse was vital preparation for her internship.

“Converse taught me how to act as a true professional in the career field. The College also taught me the values of flexibility and innovation, which are essential in recruiting volunteers…Finally, and most importantly, Converse taught me to have an attitude of ‘I can!’”