College internships jumpstart many professional careers and Central College believes these are important to post-graduation success. Central students gain real-world experience, professional networks, practical application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and career discovery during internships. Depending on the mentor site, internships may be unpaid or have other financial barriers that students must overcome.
Enter 1985 Central alumnus, Jeff Boeyink, partner with LS2 Group, Des Moines, Iowa, with a gift to help ensure Central students gain a well-rounded education. He is making a second $15,000 gift to Central for a total of $30,000 to support students during internships.
The Career Development and Civic Engagement office will manage the funds to support students during internships with supplemental living stipends during unpaid internships.
“Students who are completing unpaid internships are encouraged to apply to be awarded these funds,” says Jodie Smith, director of career development and civic engagement. “The supplemental funds will make it possible for students to engage in worthwhile learning experiences that will help them develop and refine their skills and career related pursuits.”
“Real-world experience for students and getting into the internship environment is as important as any course you’re ever going to take,” Boeyink says. “When I was a junior at Central, I was an intern in the Iowa Senate. Little did I know at that point that I would spend most of my career in and around the state capitol in a lot of different roles.”
Boeyink has served as the executive director for the Republican Party of Iowa and chief of staff for Governor Terry Branstad. He is now a lobbyist with LS2 Group serving multiple clients. He explained that while at the governor’s office, he encouraged and mentored interns to give them experience working in the governor’s office.
“We have a lot of interns at LS2 and we’ve hired many straight out of college because of the work that they’ve done here and their ability to showcase their talent in an internship environment,” Boeyink adds.
Alumni recognize internships earn valuable knowledge and experience as part of a Central education. Following Boeyink’s lead, other alumni decided to support student internship resources including Nyla Heerema, 1963 Central graduate, Mark and Lori Kooiker Ellingson, Central Classes of 1980 and 1982, Dave and Kristi Jaarsma Balk, 1986 and 1988 Central graduates, Dave and Cathy Snyders Gray, 1987 and 1988 Central graduates, Michele and Mark Vander Linden, Class of 1989, and Trent and Kris Brandt Vaughn, both 1990 Central graduates.
“I’m at a place in my life financially that I can support the things I care about,” Boeyink says. “When you reflect on those experiences that were most impactful on your life and your career, my time at Central College was that period of time. Those impactful periods set the foundation for the career success that I’ve had. Giving back to Central and current Central students seemed to be a good investment of my resources. I look at it as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these students.”
“I always appreciated the donors who helped make my college experience possible,” adds Boeyink. “I was a Peter H. Kuyper Scholar for my class. I remember meeting the Kuyper family. I know it was important to them to meet the young people who were receiving these dollars in the name of their relatives.”