Bridgewater, Va. – The Showker Award for Internship Excellence ceremony was held on Friday, March 5 at 12 p.m. to honor those students who portrayed leadership, creativity and collaboration throughout field experiences and internships. 

The ceremony was held on Zoom and lasted an hour. In previous years, the ceremony was held in the president’s suite, with a reception to follow. 

This year, there were three participants who earned the award — Annabell Knapp, Stephanie Hintze, and Rebekah Moyer. 

The Showker Award for Internship Excellence is awarded by the Zane D. Showker Institute for Responsible Leadership, which is part of the Center for Engaged Learning.

The ceremony was hosted by Sherry Talbott, director of career services and internships, who introduced the award and the recipients. 

“Each year the Showker Award for Internship Excellence is given to three Bridgewater College students,” said Talbott. “We give a lot of different avenues where students can be connected to the community and organizations.”

Associate Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Zane D. Showker Institute Randall Young spoke at the ceremony as well. 

“We are all capable of being leaders,” said Young. “The students we are recognizing today have all found inspiring ways of leading.”

The ceremony consisted of hearing from the students who received the awards, their site supervisors where they interned and the cooperating professors at Bridgewater College. 

Moyer, class of 2021, did an internship with Racey Engineering in Luray, Virginia. During the ceremony, she presented a PowerPoint that showed her experience throughout her time there. 

Hintze, class of 2021, did an internship with Dayton Animal Clinic in Dayton, Virginia. During the ceremony, Hintze spoke about her experience throughout her time there. 

Knapp, class of 2021, did an internship with START — the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. START is a research and education center at the University of Maryland, College Park. During the ceremony, Knapp spoke about the type of leadership skills she developed while interning. 

Each participant spoke about their experiences and what leadership skills they developed. In addition, they reflected on their site supervisor and the impact that they had on them.

Each internship site supervisor gave a brief background of what their organization does and provided an overview of the students’ experience and what they did while interning. 

To receive the Showker Award, students have to go through a detailed application process. 

The award can only be given to three participants, but they also offer a runner-up award. The runner-up award is a Bridgewater College pad portfolio that students can take with them into the professional world. 

Each Showker Award recipient receives a monetary award of $350. Site supervisors are given a trophy to acknowledge their contribution to the college. 

“Recognition of Bridgewater College helps establish that relationship with the community and the college,” said Talbott. “It’s a wonderful experience for all three parties; internship site, intern, and the college.”

Talbott encouraged students listening to speak with her about participating in internships. Not all students are required to complete one, but they are encouraged to build relationships and connect their education with an internship experience.