From the last day of finals week in May to the first day of the new school year in August, there are approximately 108 days of summer vacation for University of Northern Colorado (UNC) students.
Each one of those hundred-plus days is filled with possibilities — visiting friends and family at home, taking trips to new places, locking in to a summer job or simply beating the heat by the pool for some classic rest and relaxation.
For some students, those summer days are spent exploring their chosen career fields and getting hands-on experience in the form of internships.
From a major league baseball stadium to the shores of South Africa and beyond, here are some of the internship experiences that UNC students got the chance to participate in this past summer.
An Internship Grand Slam
Every morning, Jasmin Mazariegos Rodriguez walked into work through stadium gates.
As she prepared each day to launch into pitching season tickets and hitting sales goals as an intern for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Business Support Team, she did so just a few feet away from the massive, manicured baseball field and nearly 50,000 stadium seats where fans and players alike would gather to partake in America’s pastime.
“It was so cool,” Mazariegos said. “Every morning, we’d go in and get to see the place completely empty. But then, sometimes we’d have 12 p.m. game days and I’d get to sit in my office and watch the stadium fill up little by little. And you’d peek your head out from your desk and see someone hitting a home run or grand slam.”
Mazariegos is a senior Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Digital Marketing. For her, the chance to join the team of such a large sports organization and learn from their business professionals was a home run.
“I was kind of hesitant at first — like, I didn’t know if I could see myself moving all the way to Arizona for a few months,” Mazariegos said. “But I knew I couldn’t say no to the opportunity when it presented itself.”
She worked for the team Monday through Friday, making cold calls to prospective season ticket holders, setting up stadium tours and hosting membership events. Despite the fact that her duties involved chatting with strangers and making difficult sales, Mazariegos said it didn’t daunt her in the slightest.
“Sports is such a good space for people to come and unite,” Mazariegos said. “It’s a joy to work in because it’s really a lot of people’s fun space; their getaway space.”
Her summer with the Diamondbacks isn’t the first internship experience Mazariegos has participated in. In fact, it isn’t even her first with a major sports team, nor her last.
Prior to this most recent role, she interned in a similar position for the Denver Nuggets basketball team. As she heads into the fall semester, she’s already got a position lined up as an intern for the Denver Broncos’ marketing and promotions team and plans to work with them during the school year.
Her advice on internships?
“Just go for it. You hear it a lot, but truly, the worst thing people can say is no. And you miss every shot you don’t take.”
Or, perhaps more fittingly; you miss every pitch you don’t swing for.
International IT Experience
It’s a tough question — deciding between spending summer break vacationing abroad or gaining career experience through an internship.
But for Ethan Blair and Rufta Atsgeba, interning with the WeFi Technology Group offered the perfect opportunity to do both.
Blair is a senior Computer Information Systems (CIS) major and Atsgeba graduated from UNC in May with a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in CIS. Both are recipients of the Nicholas Feinstein Technology Internship Scholarship, an award created by UNC President Andy Feinstein and his wife Kerry to honor the memory of their son.
In partnership with WeFi, Blair and Atsgeba’s costs for the internship were covered.
And just like that, the two students boarded a plane and set off for the WeFi offices in Stellenbosch, South Africa — the first time either of them had been outside of the country.
“When I first got the internship, I wasn’t sure about it, honestly. It was my first time being so far from home,” Atsgeba said. “But when I sat down with President Feinstein and [WeFi CEO] John Schmidt, they really reassured me and told me I wouldn’t regret it — and they were absolutely right.”
The pair worked with WeFi for two months over the summer, aiding the team on a variety of information technology (IT) projects. From coding to software engineering, working with AI models and building a website for future WeFi interns, Blair and Atsgeba got the chance to hone their technical skills alongside seasoned professionals.
“It was right in line with the kinds of things I’ve been working on during my time at UNC,” Blair said. “I got to use the skills and things I’ve learned at UNC and see them turn into tangible things in the real world.”
Beyond their work for the company, both Blair and Atsgeba expressed how impactful it was to be immersed in the culture of another country and connect with the people there.
“The people were so open and welcoming,” Atsgeba said. “Here in the U.S., people often keep to themselves, but everyone over there felt so friendly.”
Blair’s experience was so positive that he said it changed his goals for the future.
“I really want to go back to South Africa,” Blair said. “I just fell in love with it, with everything we were doing down there. This experience really broadened my horizons, and I’d love to keep doing more of that.”
Atsgeba also emphasized the impact the trip had on her.
“It genuinely changed my perspective on life a little bit,” she said. “We saw a bit of the two sides to the country – how there’s also a very much less privileged part of South Africa. It made me realize how important it is to be aware of that and be thankful for everything I have – even the smallest things.”
In particular, both Blair and Atsgeba expressed their gratitude toward Feinstein and Schmidt for their recognition as scholarship recipients and the opportunity to participate in this experience.
Their advice on internships?
“You can do it,” Atsgeba said. “If you put yourself out there, you really won’t regret it.”
Blair concurred.
“Genuinely, just put yourself out there,” Blair said. “Right now, with so much going on and so many people looking for jobs, finding a way to distinguish yourself and stand out is really important. Internships are a great way to do that and to get the kind of experience you need.”
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