Howard W. Hewitt – The Present Indiana summer internship program has grown in quality each of its three years. If you have not seen any of the student presentations previously, you should take advantage of the noon time presentations going on this month.
Present Indiana is a segment of the three-part Quality of Life Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Present Indiana offers 8-week internships to Wabash students to study interesting Indiana history and culture. Tuesday, Oct. 9, two of the students made noontime presentations in Detchon Hall.
The presentations will continue Oct. 18, 25, and Nov. 8 and 15. The presentations on the 18th will feature Matt Vest‘s video and research on the German-based religious immigration to southwestern Indiana. The other presentation will be Robert Campbell‘s study of the actual battle of the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Mitch Brown ’10 gave his presentation on the history of Brown County’s art colony. And even if you’ve been to Brown County to peep at the leaves in fall, you’re still going to learn a lot about the community and its importance in the art world from Mitch’s presentation.
Nearly every Hoosier has visited one of the state’s great state parks. Zac Simpson ’09 spent his summer learning about the history and development of the state’s parks.
Nine students spent the first eight weeks of their summer in the project. The only surprising thing about Present Indiana is that we haven’t had more competition for the summer internship. It’s a well-paid, fun, and educational opportunity for Wabash men.
I’m lucky to help supervise the internship with David Clapp, director of international students. We guide the students in managing their time, narrowing the focus of their projects, and preparing their presentations.
Just Friday Jacob Peerman and Ross McKinney did a presentation on Indiana wine and cheese.
The students are available throughout the year to make on- or off-campus presentations on their projects. Indiana has much to offer – the grant funds projects to show new Hoosiers and older ones alike that the state is rich in cultural diversity.
Top right: Simpson. Lower left: Brown.
