Internships open up a multitude of options for hard-working student

(Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a series of stories about students in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications completing summer internships.)

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — There’s "busy," and then there’s "two internships busy," and Allison Sailors has embraced the latter approach this summer.

Sailors, a junior advertising/public relations major, knows the value of practical experience as a complement to her classroom work and said she’s exploring a couple career paths with her internships.

Sailors has one internship close to home and in person, as a marketing intern for Flyland Designs; and another internship far from home and remote, as a branding and advertising intern with Joy Healing Co.

Flyland Designs, based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and owned by Penn State alumnus Brian Allen, has a reputation as a go-to place for graphic design in a variety of applications. Allen might be more widely known for helping to create Gritty, the Philadelphia Flyers’ mascot, but his artwork has brought to life everything from apparel and album covers to packaging and pinball machines. The company’s long list of clients includes gaming companies, rock bands, TV networks and more.

When Sailors works there, focusing on marketing and strategies to boost the business, it’s a short commute from her nearby home in Centre County. She graduated from Penns Valley High School. She works one day a week in person and one day remote as part of a position that stated the first week of June and continues until Aug. 11.

“It’s been a really interesting experience, and it’s exciting to hopefully help his work reach even more clients and people,” Sailors said. “There’s a lot of freedom with the position, and it’s exciting to explore ways to promote and support his work because he’s trying to figure out what strategy might be most successful.”

She’s the first marketing intern Allen has employed. She’s conducting client outreach and research for as well as helping with the company’s social media accounts.

Allen said Sailors’ contributions are going well.

Business development is vital for a small business in a competitive marketplace, said Allen, and as the company’s owner and lead designer client cultivation sometimes gets less attention than it should.

“It’s always on the list of things to do and then it always gets pushed down,” said Allen, who earned his bachelor’s degree from Penn State in 2004 and started his company in 2006. “We’ve been lucky through the years that most clients find us, but being able to do our own development and marketing is important. If it’s successful, it means we can pick and choose who we work with, and just have more options.”

Sailors, who’s also completing a minor in digital media trends and analytics, found the opportunity with Joy Healing Co., based in California, through LionLink, a career networking effort coordinated by the Penn State Alumni Association. Her work with the company includes helping build a brand kit and create templates for the company. There’s also a bit of research as Sailors suggests different activations and campaigns that could help boost the company.

“The two internships are different, which gives me a look at different parts of the industry and even different career options,” Sailors said. “It’s a great way to help the companies out, and to prepare for what’s next for me.”

Sailors graduated early from high school and then spent several months working and saving money to attend Penn State. Her combination of curiosity and pragmatism has provided the foundation for an undergraduate career that’s included participation with the on-campus chapter of the American Advertising Foundation and the marketing team for CommRadio.

She was the first high school student to complete an internship with the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, and she’s been accepted into the Penn State Hollywood Program next spring.

She’s not exactly sure about her career path, she said, but she’s not worried. She knows it’s a little early to commit to one direction, and she’s having too much fun exploring all the possibilities — even if it does make for a busy summer.

“It’s all worthwhile,” Sailors said. “I’m leaning toward advertising, specifically experiential advertising and on-site activations, and getting as much experience as possible can only make it stronger when that the time comes.”