Hailey Hodge: Design Internships Link Business with Art

Hailey Hodge double-majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Studio Art. She was able to land two internships by integrating and applying the skills she learned in both her areas of interest. Hodge completed a design internship at Whipp, an advertising agency in Spartanburg, SC, in the spring of 2012.  “I had just finished a course in graphic design at Converse the fall before my internship. Even though I had only learned the basic levels, the managers at Whipp were impressed by how I was making connections between the business side and the art side of advertising.”

“The managers at Whipp were impressed by how I was making connections between the business side and the art side of advertising.”

In the summers of 2012 and 2013, Hodge continued to work in design for The Item, the local newspaper in Sumter, SC.  “My business senior seminar helped significantly with this job. I have to work with a team of people selling and designing ads. Senior seminar taught me the real world of business and what to do and not to do in the real world, which I was able to apply to my internship.”

How hard is it to double major in two fields, which both have a large number of course requirements?  “Being a double major isn’t crazy, impossible, or overachieving. But, it does take determination and organization. Some people used to ask me if I still had a life outside of class because I was double majoring. Of course I did! I still had time for friends, family, leadership positions, clubs, an honor society (Omicron Delta Kappa), internships, and a part time job.”

Hodge completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing in 2013, graduating magna cum laude.  She then remained at Converse for an additional year in order to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, with a focus in printmaking.  She plans to attend graduate school in art.