Five Students, Five Different Experiences

From working with Trey Songz to the wounded in Haiti, students are bringing their career aspirations to life.

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Sam McLachlan

When this soccer player isn’t on the field or spending time with his friends, he is working in the recording studio. Sam, a music production and technology major, spends up to six hours each day helping fellow students create and record music of all kinds. “I’m using all of the standard professional programs and external hardware I could ask for.” Sam’s experience in the studio prepared him for his 2018 summer internship at The Chicago Recording company—the biggest recording studio in the Midwest where he was able to sit in on sessions with the likes of Trey Songz and Ramsey Lewis. 

“I realized how great the real-world experience is at BVU when I met other interns who didn’t have access to the same technology and helpful professors.” 

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Brenda Hartman

As a social work major, Brenda landed a paid internship with The Bridge, a nonprofit in Storm Lake. Together with The Bridge, Brenda organized transportation and other logistics for youth to get involved in a community garden. “It keeps kids busy during the summer and introduces them to the idea of working together as a community,” she says. 

“My professors have taught me that social work is a lot of listening to determine how you can be a support, and that has solidified my decision to work with youth after graduation.”

Brenda says that she had never pictured herself in college until she had a daughter and decided to choose a school that was close to home. She now hopes to gain social work licensure and earn a master’s degree one day. 
 

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Cesar Gonzalez

Cesar, a special education major who graduated in December, spent his 2018 J-Term in Colorado where he worked in an autism specialty classroom. 

“I learned about the differences in teaching resources, programs, and materials, and discovered some things that I’d like to bring to my classroom one day.” 

Once a biology major, Cesar says that BVU introduced him to the field of special education and he immediately fell in love with it. Cesar has also learned sign language, which has benefited him in working with special needs adults and youth in Storm Lake. “BVU’s School of Education is one of the best places for special educators because the professors do so much more than teach about the field. I feel so prepared.” 

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Zach Anderson

In December, Zach received his bachelor’s in business marketing and has since become a licensed real estate agent with Midwest Land Management and an ag chemical and fertilizer dealer through Wells Ag Supply.

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go to college at first. I wanted to work on my family farm and help my dad. I’m glad realized the knowledge I would gain in both business and agriculture and the benefits it would bring in the future.” 

Zach was a three-year letter-winner before an injury propelled his entrepreneurial spirit. The lessons he took from strength and conditioning in football combined with the networking skills he learned in class provided Zach with the knowledge he needed to begin working in agricultural sales, agricultural real estate, and business all before graduation. 

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Megan Wassom

As a biomedical science major from Spencer, Megan assisted a local Iowa doctor in performing orthopedic surgeries in Haiti last summer. She and nine others on the trip not only fixed fractured bones, but they also taught Haitian medical professionals new techniques and visited orphanages on the eight-day trip sponsored by Love Takes Root. 

“The best way to provide service to others is through education, which is why I’m so glad BVU’s motto is Education for Service.” 

Megan is a certified surgical technologist and plans to pursue physician assistant school after she graduates from BVU. She also previously served as one of BVU’s Alternate Week of Offsite Learning vice presidents and as a member of Student Mobilizing Outreach & Volunteer Efforts.