Internships offer students opportunities to gain on-the-job experiences that build upon what they’ve learned in campus classrooms.

We interviewed four students who represented Illinois State University while pursuing their professional aspirations through summer 2024 internships.

Liam Lyons, junior journalism major, Oklahoma City Thunder intern

Liam Lyons scored an alumni-connected internship opportunity with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I got an email from Steve Suess (’10, M.S. ’12), one of my professors,” he recalled. “He said, ‘Want to come in one day? I have a great opportunity for you.’”

Initially, Lyons thought the opportunity was a local summer job, but he soon learned about Matt Tumbleson ’04, an Illinois State alum who is the vice president for basketball communications and engagement for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I met with Matt and some other guys, and, thanks to them, I’ve been able to have a great opportunity,” Lyons said.

Lyons, who interned remotely, assisted with media tasks, player profiles, game notes, and podcast notes. “It’s been really exciting, and I’m very thankful for the opportunity,” he said.

Lyons is still working remotely with the Thunder and plans to continue through his senior year.

“I think I’m just going to keep it going and then see what happens post-college,” he said. “Maybe I’ll do it full time for them, or maybe work for another NBA team.

“The best part of the internship is getting to learn something new every day, and it’s so cool to work for an NBA team from my house,” Lyons said.

While working remotely, Lyons connects with Tumbleson every few weeks via Zoom. “I send him stuff by 9 a.m. every day so he can send it to Sam Presti, the GM (general manager) of the Thunder.”

Tumbleson interned for WZND and TV-10 during his time at Illinois State, and Lyons is doing the same.

“Without WZND and TV-10 and I would not be where I am today,” Lyons said. “The last two years I have been able to gain practical experience and develop relationships that will help me for years to come.”

Lyons credits Tumbleson and Suess for their support. “They both have put me in a really good place going into my junior year,” he said.

Lexi Muoghalu, senior journalism major, ABC7 Chicago intern

Lexi Muoghalu, a senior journalism major within Illinois State’s School of Communication, had her dream come true through an internship with ABC7 in Chicago, facilitated by the Illinois Broadcasters Association’s minority internship program.

“I had expressed a very high interest in interning at ABC7 because I had watched their newscast every single day with my dad growing up,” Muoghalu said. “It was so meaningful because I got to work alongside the same reporters and anchors that I had watched growing up.”

She said her time at ABC7 felt “surreal,” often making her feel like a “fangirl” in the presence of her childhood idols.

Muoghalu credits the School of Communication for her preparation and confidence in a major market newsroom.

“ISU’s school of communication easily helped me to secure this internship,” she said. “I was equipped with the skills necessary to pitch ideas in meetings and understand specific terminology.”

Muoghalu’s ability to handle tasks like stand-ups and live looks “impressed many,” and she credited her experience at Illinois State. “A lot of the reporters were so impressed because a lot of other schools don’t have the same resources that Illinois State has,” she said.

The 12-week rotational internship provided her with exposure to six areas: evening news, special projects, digital news, assignment desk, investigative reporting, and programming.

“The hardest part was the transition from TV-10 to ABC7, because everything is on such a larger scale,” she said. “Understanding how all the smaller pieces fit into creating a newscast daily was something I had to get comfortable with.

“I am eternally grateful for this opportunity. It was incredible to walk in the same corners as those I have admired throughout my collegiate career and childhood.”

Kevin Schultz, graduate student, State Farm intern

During his internship at State Farm Insurance, Kevin Schultz ’23 served as a property casualty underwriter, focusing specifically on homeowners’ insurance.

“I worked on the homeowners’ side, reviewing applications and researching different underwriting levers the company could pull to control policy growth across different market areas instead of increase policy output,” Schultz said.

Schultz was drawn to State Farm because of his background in risk management and insurance from his undergraduate studies.

“I wanted something local and relevant to my field,” he said. “I liked State Farm because they have a very big presence in the Bloomington-Normal area.”

Schultz’s undergraduate degree was in Risk Management and Insurance, and he is currently pursuing an MBA at Illinois State.

“The biggest part of my internship was working on research projects about hypothetical underwriting levers,” he said. “We had to research the background and run simulations to see if these levers would work.” The results were presented to the executive underwriting team.

Schultz said he values the networking opportunities provided by State Farm.

“We met with many VPs across the company and the executive underwriting leadership,” he said. “It helped me develop professionally and personally.”

Schultz is in his final year of graduate school and has previously interned with a smaller insurance company in Naperville. “Last summer, I interned at Highland Insurance doing builders risk underwriting,” he said. “I developed a capstone project and presented it to their leadership team.”

Schultz appreciates the interactive nature of his graduate classes in the College of Business that prepared him for his internships. “The class environments are much more communication-focused,” he said. “In seminar-style classes, desks are arranged in a circle, allowing for more informal and engaging discussions.”

Samantha Tate, graduate student, YWCA McLean County Stepping Stones intern

Samantha Tate ’23, a second-year graduate student at Illinois State who earned an undergraduate degree in psychology participated in an impactful internship with YWCA McLean County’s Stepping Stones program. This program, dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault, aligns with Tate’s academic and professional pursuits in the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, specializing in child and family practice.

“I found the internship through my program coordinator,” Tate said. “The MSW program at Illinois State has a program coordinator with a list of organizations they have a relationship with, so the first step to finding an internship is already made for you.”

At the YWCA, Tate applied her theoretical knowledge in a practical setting while working as a counselor focused on advocacy and education.

“Before this, I had not yet experienced it in the actual field,” she said. “So, I am able to get that clinical work by working with clients in a counseling setting.”

Tate said the internship helped her identify what she wants—and what she doesn’t want—to do in her future career.

“This internship has solidified my interest in the counseling side of the field,” she said. “I also do the crisis hotline, and this internship has shown me that that is something I am not as built for.”

Tate noted that Illinois State’s support extends beyond securing internships.

“The Master of Social Work program at Illinois State has such a great team that helps with every step of finding an internship and navigating the interview process,” Tate said.

The practical experience of the internship also deepened Tate’s understanding of theoretical concepts.

“Through this internship, I have really been able to connect back to things I have learned within the program,” Tate said. “It makes so much more sense in a way that I can fully interact with it and engage in those skills within the field.”

Tate’s advice to future interns is both practical and encouraging. “Internships are for learning. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or advocate for yourself,” she advises. “Make mistakes, measure your growth, and keep track of where you need to grow, where your strengths and where your weaknesses are at.”

Students seeking internships are invited to attend the Fall Internship Fair September 18, hosted by Career Services in the Bone Student Center. Resume review and interview preparation services are available in advance.