The 2023 MHK Summer Intern Program hosted networking events and professional development opportunities for more than 30 interns from businesses across the Greater Manhattan region throughout June and July. In return, businesses were able to tap in to this talented workforce and make connections with potential future employees.
The program concluded with an intern appreciation luncheon in the Shamrock Zone overlooking Kansas State University’s Bill Snyder Family Stadium. K-State senior linebacker Austin Moore attended as a surprise guest and spoke about the benefit of his own internship experience with the Evans Student-Athlete Success Program.
Interns and professionals from A & H Farm, BHS Construction, Bluemont Hotel, K-State Athletics and McCownGordon Construction joined the end-of-summer festivities to celebrate the program’s inaugural group.
Created as part of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce’s Made for Manhattan initiative, the program formed in partnership with K-State Athletics and Hype, the Manhattan area young professionals’ organization. Amber Hutfles, talent strategies coordinator for the Manhattan Chamber, described the program as a way for students entering the workforce to develop ongoing professional connections in the area.
“We've extended invitations for them to attend and learn more about the community,” Hutfles said. “If they decide to live and work here in Manhattan, they could join up with a mentor or new intern friend in the future.”
The program kicked off in June with an event at the Flints Hills Discovery Center, where interns were invited to get to know each other, meet local young professionals and network with business leaders in the community.
Matt Bachman, senior in construction management and operations intern at McCownGordon Construction, appreciated getting to meet new people and seeing all that goes on in Manhattan when classes are not in session.
“Manhattan is a big enough community to have everything you need, but it’s small enough that everybody knows everybody,” he said.
The networking events continued throughout June and July and included Hype’s Lattes with Leadership at Brothers Coffee and Mentorship Matters at the Midwest Dream Car Collection.
Cameron Shaner, junior in construction science and management and intern at BHS Construction, attended the mentorship event and enjoyed seeing “the cool cars and all the history.” But he was most impressed by how much he learned from the mentors and mentees alike.
“Within Manhattan there are opportunities to grow,” Shaner said. “The leaders in the community show a real interest in helping build up the next generation of business owners and workers.”
But it wasn’t only interns who benefitted from the program. Local professionals appreciated the opportunity to meet with interns at social events like the Young Professionals Meet-Up at the Wamego Country Club and Hype Hooray Thursday at A & H Farm.
Lauren Franken, senior project engineer at McCownGordon and former intern, valued participating in events alongside the interns she managed over the summer.
“I loved getting to hear what they’re learning in school right now and what’s most important to them to get out of the internship,” Franken said. “It’s been really fun having that relationship because I’ve been on the other end, and I haven’t really gotten to be the mentor before.”
Morgan Spinden, senior in agricultural communication and journalism and marketing intern at BHS Construction, appreciated the varied opportunities included throughout the program.
“It shows a lot about the community that they are willing to let the interns be a part of it and give them activities to feel welcome,” she said.
According to Hutfles, the Manhattan Chamber is already working toward next year’s program. The aim is to grow participation both to help future professionals explore the Greater Manhattan region and to facilitate businesses’ connections with up-and-coming talent.
“Manhattan's obviously a great place to work and live,” Hutfles said. “If through this intern program, we help young people or students who are entering or involved in the program to see themselves having a successful career in Manhattan, that would be a success.”
To learn more about the Manhattan Chamber and its programs, visit https://www.manhattan.org.
