Andrea Burridge, associate dean of Undergraduate Studies and Norma Olvera, professor in the Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences (PHLS), created the fair in 2011 as part of an initiative to promote internship experiences among students in the Health and HDFS programs. The first fair was held during the Fall 2011 semester.

“I can’t believe we are celebrating our fifth year of the internship fair,” said Olvera.  “More than 1000 students have benefitted from this event.” 

Health Fair organizers Ken Ripperger-Surler, Kelli Drenner and founder Norma Olvera.

This year's fair was organized by HSA, HDSA and PHLS clinical professors Kelli Drenner and Ken Ripperger-Suhler.  “I would like to thank everyone who helped, from Dr. [Norma] Olvera who gave us guidance from the very beginning and throughout the whole process, to Paula Leveston who was  the person we counted on in the weeks leading up to the fair,” said Ripperger-Suhler.  “We relied on Paula’s experience to help ensure we were on track.”

Drenner and Ripperger-Suhler were also extremely proud of the HSA and HDSA student officers who recruited the vendors and organized the volunteers. “We had numerous vendors that gave students the opportunity to see a variety of internship possibilities that they may not have known were available,” said Drenner.   “Many of the students said they found the right fit for them.”

Sydney Alexander, an HDFS senior student who plans to graduate in December, attended the fair as a vendor for the Recipe for Success (RFS) foundation. RFS strives to lead the way in combatting childhood obesity by changing the way children understand, appreciate and eat their food.  They also help the community provide healthier diets for our kids. “The internship fair is important because as the first HDFS student in RFS, I had the opportunity to speak on a first hand basis to other HDFS students about the internships and education available at RFS,” she said

Lori Hinze, Founder/Director of Cook learn grow, a cooking school for kids, appreciates the College of Education creating the Internship Fair for the students.  “We benefit by having the opportunity to train the next generation of teachers and learners,” said Hinze.  “The students were very organized and focused and are excited about what we have to offer.”

Joshua Martin, a senior Health student, was unsure about his career direction before he attended the fair.   “The recruiters explained the different paths I could take and clarified my vision in the health field,” he said.