How would you like to spend a semester where ‘dreams come true’?
The Disney Career Fair is hitting West Chester Thursday, Oct. 9, and you too can become a part of the magic.
All majors of any level just need to bring a resume, a well-dressed-self, and make sure to not be a minute late, Nancy Hutchison of Career and Co-Op Services, said. This event is taking place at West Chester University, in the Sykes Student Union Ballroom C on Thursday, Oct. 9, beginning with a mandatory information session at 5:30 p.m. and concluding with interviews with Disney recruiters.
Students who pass the first interview will then be asked to set up a second interview. If accepted into the program, students will have a “valuable experience working in a wide variety of roles working in one of Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks, water parks, or hotels” according to the Walt Disney World College Program information packet. This packet can be found in the Career and Co-Op Services Office. This information can also be found on the Walt Disney World College Program’s website (www.wdwcollegeprogram.com).
“It is a great opportunity for students to make connections and network with others,” Hutchison said.
Courses are also offered for credit during this program. These include: Disney College Program Practicum, Disney Communication, Disney Hospitality, Disney Experiential Learning, The Disney Marketing U: Personal and Career Development Strategies, Disney Organizational Leadership, and Disney Human Resource Management.
According to the information packet, students will gain “confidence and independence in a hands-on work experience.”
“This experience is no different than studying abroad for a semester,” Ann Servey, an accounting professor, said. “It works well for students, because they are still, in a way, in school.”
Cabrini alumnus Heather Lynn Rawlings participated in the program in the spring of 2000. She was excited when she was accepted.
“Graduation can wait. Florida, here I come,” Rawlings said. Rawlings wished she attended the program earlier than senior year so she could have gone on to the Intensive Internship which dives deeper into Disney relations. However graduation could not be postponed any longer. For students interested in going, one does not have to wait until senior year; Disney accepts all college levels. The Intensive program is offered to students who complete the initial intern program.
People from around the world attend the program each year, and one never stays in the same position for the whole time, according to theater director Neal Newman.
Rawlings still keeps in touch with friends all over the country, including Hawaii. While she was at the program, she interacted with people from London, other parts of Europe and Brazil. Housing is simple, one can choose from apartments with four or six roommates. Rawlings chose the sixperson living arrangements, because it was cheaper. All rent is deducted from the pay administered through the internship.
There is a wide variety of diverse activities to get involved in once at the program. Whether one wants to be in the hotel industry, work with public relations, or jump into the world of technical theater, this program offers plenty.
Newman had the opportunity to work with many eager interns for a summer while he stage-managed some of the background activities. He explained that the environment is well structured, and places an individual into a “true business setting.”
The next time you “wish upon a star,” you could be doing it where the magic never ends.
Posted to the Web by: Toccara Buckley
