New fund helps students study abroad, pursue internships away from Moscow

When University of Idaho students apply to graduate, they must complete a survey reflecting on their time on campus. The surveys consistently show that students who participate in out-of-class activities have richer experiences than those who do not. Among the most frequently mentioned activities are student media, internships, and study abroad.

Working for a media outlet, an advertising agency or PR firm gives students an opportunity to develop professional skills, their portfolios and their confidence. Because of Moscow’s distance from major media markets, the School of JAMM does not require an internship to graduate, though faculty members strongly encourage them. (About one-fifth of our students complete at least one internship.)

Students in advertising, broadcasting and digital media often must seek internships in Boise, Spokane, Portland or Seattle because of the lack of local opportunities. Unless a student is able to live with family members or friends, he or she usually cannot afford to accept an internship in a metropolitan area.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of JAMM majors enroll in our Global Media course, study a foreign language or obtain a second major in International Studies. They seek ways to expand their awareness of U.S. foreign policy, the structure of international media organizations and the ways in which U.S. companies compete in a global marketplace.

Here is a testimonial from a JAMM major who studied in Italy last spring: "Daily survival in a foreign country improves confidence much faster than the transition from high school to college. The most interesting benefit is how the student observes the United States and their home from abroad. This experience forever changes the way a person looks at their past, present and future." (Robert Tedeschi, scheduled to graduate in 2010)

Robert's international experience, combined with a second language (Spanish), will give him an advantage when seeking employment after graduation. However, to study abroad for semester or a year, a student must forego employment opportunities or take out additional student loans.

That’s why we have created a Student Opportunities Fund. This will support the efforts of students who, through their own initiative, land an internship in a city with higher living costs or seek to improve their knowledge of language, culture and politics by living and studying in another country. Alumni who have benefited from internships or an international experience are invited to designate this fund when they make a contribution to the School.