Megan Cotterman, Author at

Posted on November 6, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

GCC’s American Marketing Association Enters National Website Competition

Grove City College’s Chapter of the American Marketing Association is a small group of dedicated students who are passionate about marketing. GCC’s AMA chapter helps students prepare for future careers through discussion of marketing related subjects and practical experience. Activities throughout the year include case studies, AMA certification programs, creating collegiate campaigns for other organizations and attending the University of Pittsburgh’s Conference. AMA is a great way to network with marketing students and professionals and gain practical experience.

This year we took on a unique challenge for our chapter. We entered AMA’s national website competition. The task was to create a website for our chapter that will be evaluated on aesthetics, content, functionality and engagement. With help from the business department, we bought a domain name and launched a WordPress site. With the continued growth of digital marketing and the need for professionals in this area, this was a great opportunity for AMA members to develop their website design and content writing skills. We broke up into teams and got to work. With about a month to work on the site, it was a whirlwind of activity. We went from sketches of the homepage on paper to a fully functioning website within weeks. I would say everyone involved learned a lot and was able to walk away with something to talk about on resumes and in job interviews.

Grove City College’s business and entrepreneurship departments are expanding their offering of classes on digital marketing and data analytics. With many business organizations on campus, there are so many ways to develop skills and build work samples. Interested in Grove City’s business department? Check out their page!

Posted on November 2, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

A Marketing Major’s Experience in GCC’s Elevator Pitch Competition

The Elevator Pitch Competition is an annual event at Grove City College. Students from all majors participate and pitch their own original business ideas. There are two categories in this competition: social and commercial enterprises. The event starts with a preliminary round to narrow the candidates to 10 finalists from each category. This year we had 102 students from all majors and years participate!

The judges question Foodini, one of many contestants, in the preliminary round of the Elevator Pitch Competition. Foodini must have had the right answers, as they advanced to the final round!

I took the opportunity to participate this year as a senior for the first time. As a marketing major, I have always been interested in entrepreneurship. This year I decided to take Entrepreneurship 101 and a requirement in the class is to participate in the Elevator Pitch Competition. To be honest, I was nervous. My marketing and business classes have been focused on strategy and marketing of existing companies and products. Now I was given the challenge of creating a unique business idea and the task to pitch the idea in 2 minutes to a panel of judges. I brainstormed, worked with my professor and finally developed an original idea. It was a great experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone.

My introductory entrepreneurship class is full of students from all majors so the ideas discussed are diverse. Grove City College gives you the opportunity to explore different disciplines which helps develop us into well-rounded students. The Elevator Pitch Competition is the perfect example of the collaboration of different majors on business ideas. In the finals, there was everything from an engineer major pitching a photography equipment idea to a political science major pitching a news aggregate website for millennials. All years were represented in the finals. It is a really unique opportunity at Grove City for freshman to compete with seniors. Although I am not an entrepreneurship major and do not plan on starting my own company, I appreciate the opportunity to learn new ways of thinking and the chance to develop my own business idea.

This year’s winners pose with their “big checks.” The first place winners took home $500, second place scored $400, and third place took $300.

The Elevator Pitch Competition occurs every fall at Grove City and it gets better every year! To learn more about entrepreneurship at Grove City College, check out their page!

Posted on October 26, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

Initiative and Innovation in the Student Investment Society

Grove City College is host to many organizations and clubs, like any college or university, however what sets Grove City apart is the propensity for those groups to be founded and run entirely by students. Just one great example of a student run organization is the Student Investment Society which started from the vision of two seniors in 2014, Taylor Schmidt and Josh Logan. They saw a need to put all their book knowledge of finance to the test and gain some real world experience investing. The founders got the club off the ground by working with the business department and garnering interest from students, but Bryan Thomas, Finance ‘16, and Christian Lamarco, Finance ’17, took the organization to the next level. With the support of the business department and a faculty advisor, Thomas and Lamarco submitted a constitution and presented their organization to Grove City College faculty and staff and the Student Investment Society became an official group on campus. SIS meets weekly and boasts close to 30 regular attendees.

But what happens at these meetings?

According to Thomas, their meeting purposes are three-fold. First, the organization looks to be a place where students in business or other majors can come and learn about investing and gain practical experience in how a fund researches, invests and generally functions. Second, they want to promote ethical investment practice and give students experience mirroring real world investment finds. Third, the organization seeks to provide networking with alumni and other finance professionals. The investment society is in the process of gaining alumni funding to manage their own investments on behalf of Grove City College. The investment society is excitedly looking forward to starting to manage real money and network with alumni in the financial field who want to help current Grove City students grow in their investment knowledge and experience.

Thomas and Lamarco took advantage of an opportunity to attend the Carnegie Mellon University Undergraduate Stock Pitching Competition and took second place for their pitch of Nexstar Broadcasting Group. They competed with top talent from target schools and pushed out New York University for second place. Thomas and Lamarco have repeatedly proven that Grove City students can compete with the best finance schools and win.

The Student Investment Society began as a small idea and now is a large campus organization committed to helping students learn investment strategy and eventually find success in financial careers. The Student Investment Society is just one example the unique culture of initiative and innovation found at Grove City. Student’s seeking leadership and responsibility is one of the best things about Grove City, you can make your college experience your own and find support from faculty and staff.

Posted on October 11, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

Internship Spotlight: Reagan Georges

Reagan Georges ’16, Marketing Management major and Art minor from Bolton, CT. She interned with New Britain Museum of American Art.

Where did you intern last summer and what was your position title

I interned at the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, CT. I was a curatorial intern which means I assisted the curator of the museum in writing and research projects. The museum was doubling in size over the summer, so it was the perfect time to intern!

How did you secure your internship?

It sounds a little crazy, but I actually found my internship on Internships.com. I have worked in the Grove City College Pew Fine Arts gallery for several years helping stage exhibits and giving tours, so I was interested in working for a larger gallery or museum. I applied to the New Britain Museum of Art, interviewed and eventually accepted the position of curatorial intern.

What are some of the top things you learned while interning?

My internship taught me a lot, but the main thing I was able to do was improve my writing and research skills. As a business major, I have learned how to be a good communicator and this internship allowed me to apply all that I have learned in a real business context. I researched acquisitions and traveling exhibits and summarized findings for the museum trustee meeting. I also wrote press releases, articles for a museum member newsletter, and blog posts for the museum’s website. I was able to experience the editing and approval process and became a better writer as a result. My art history classes at Grove City prepared me for this internship. My writing was richer because I learned to look at the art and not just the biography of the artist.

Do you have any advice for students who are looking for internships?

Apply everywhere even if you feel like you are under-qualified. They might not know what they are looking for until they talk to you. I interned with other college students who had art majors from large universities. I may not have seemed as qualified on paper, but Grove City College enabled me to receive a well-rounded education in business and art that prepared me to excel. Also, don’t be afraid to take an unpaid internship, the experience is worth it. My curatorial internship was unpaid which is common in the non-profit world, but the experience was definitely worth it.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

My favorite part of my internship experience was the meaningful work I was given. My research went directly to affect acquisition decisions. I also was able to attend meetings with the directors and get a behind the scenes look at how museums are run.

How will your internship experience serve you in your career search?

My internship gave me experience in a museum and now I have a greater appreciation for the logistics and planning that goes into running a museum. I valued how the internship merged my marketing major and my art minor. I do not know what my future holds, but this internship experience equipped me with many skills that will serve me in whatever career I end up pursuing.

Posted on October 11, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

Education Majors in the Field

Laura Ames, ’16 Elementary Education major and a Christian Ministries minor from Virginia Beach, VA.

Grove City College’s Early Education Center is situated within the main academic building, The Hall of Arts and Letters. Its purpose is to offer an outstanding education to preschoolers and also provide classroom experience for education majors. Every elementary education major spends at least one credit of a semester in the Early Education Center. Laura Ames, a senior Elementary Education major, sat down with me to tell me about her experience as an education major at Grove City and her time at the preschool. She has enjoyed the preschoolers so much that she has spent time in the Early Education Center every semester since sophomore year as a field student, student assistant or researcher.

What are your responsibilities in the EEC?

Field students’ main responsibilities are to interact with the preschoolers and provide one-on-one attention. We help the students focus on the teacher during the lesson and assess the developmental level of the preschoolers by talking about the theme of the day during the various activities. The Early Education Center is great for preschoolers because of all of the individual attention they receive and it’s great for us as the field students because we can apply what we have learned in the classroom.

Field students also get the opportunity to teach their own lesson which involves picking a book, finding an engaging way to read it such as with picture cutouts and also picking two activities to go along with the book such as a song, movement game or craft. As education majors, we get the opportunity to teach a lesson as a freshman, well before our semester of student teaching. I remember being nervous, but it was a great learning experience and solidified my desire to be a teacher. After you teach your lesson, you get feedback from the head teacher. You learn what you did well and where you can improve. The EEC provides a safe environment where you can watch lead teachers and learn how they engage with the students and manage the classroom.

What is your favorite part of your experience in the EEC?

My favorite part of my experience in the EEC is working with the children and their contagious excitement for learning. It has been a great reminder to why I am studying and working so hard in my classes. It has also been exciting to see how much the children change and grow in a short amount of time. I remember meeting a shy little boy my sophomore year and now a few years later he has completely come out of his shell and is excelling in school.

What is the most challenging part of working in the EEC?

The biggest challenge I have faced as an education major is juggling being a student and a pre-service teacher. I go from a few hours in the preschool to college classes and studying. It can be hard finding a balance in being both a college student and a teacher at the same time.

How did Grove City College prepare you for this experience?

We learn teaching and classroom management best practices in our classes, but field experiences allow us to observe teachers actually executing them and it also enables us to apply them ourselves in the teaching our own lessons. My education psychology classes taught me the developmental stages of children and what to expect at each stage and I was able to see this in the EEC classrooms and assess children’s development levels in order to better help them.

How will this experience prepare you to be a teacher?

The EEC opened my eyes to how much I enjoy preschoolers. I even volunteered a semester in the preschool because I enjoyed the students so much. All the field experiences that Grove City requires help you figure out what grade you are best suited to teach. Education majors are in the classroom from day one of their college experience and spend countless hours interacting with students. I am grateful for the education department at Grove City College and their commitment to graduating confident and prepared educators.

To learn more about Grove City College’s Education department, check out their website!

Posted on October 5, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

Internship Spotlight: Nich Leaman

Nich Leaman ‘17 is a Finance and Accounting major from Lancaster, PA. Nich interned with Inca Link in Quito, Ecuador.

Where did you intern this summer and what was your position title?

Last summer I interned with Inca Link in Quito, Ecuador. Inca Link is made up of multiple missions organizations that reach youth in Latin America with Christ’s love through evangelism and discipleship. As a summer intern, I worked on financial projects for Inca Link, lead short term missions teams that came to Quito throughout the summer and was involved with Cumbre Alta, a sports discipleship ministry.

How did you secure your internship?

After going to Ecuador with Grove City’s soccer team in the summer of 2014, I felt called to go back to Ecuador. I contacted the Coach of Cumbre Alta, one of the teams we played, who connected me with the missions organization, Inca Link which supports Cumbre Alta. I worked with Inca Link to create an internship that would encompass both finance and soccer. I was blown away by the support from my family and friends which helped make my summer internship possible.

What are the top three takeaways you learned while interning?

Leadership

I have participated in short term missions in the past, but this internship was my first experience leading people. I enjoyed answering questions and solving problems. I also had the chance to lead soccer practices for a younger soccer team. I learned skills that will help me in whatever career I end up pursuing.

Missions is Hard

I was only in Ecuador for two months, but I learned how much missionaries sacrifice to perform their jobs. While the work was extremely rewarding, it was not easy. Through my internship with Inca Link I got a taste of what missions work would be like if God called me to return to Ecuador or somewhere else in the future.

Learned to Rely on God

I learned quickly that I did not have enough energy for what was required of me every day. I worked on Inca Links’s financials and prepared the house for new missions teams during the day and practiced with Cumbre Alta at night. I often felt inadequate, but I learned to trust in God and lean into Him for my strength. I could not have gotten through every day without trusting God to give me enough energy for the day.

Do you have any advice for students who are looking for internships?

My advice would be to start early and use your connections. I knew I loved Ecuador after my trip with the soccer team, but didn’t know all the opportunities existed with Inca Link. Grove City’s soccer team’s relationship with Cumbre Alta eventually lead to my internship. I loved my internship with Inca Link and it was much more than just a summer internship. I hope more Grove City students take the opportunity to serve in Ecuador in the future.

What was your favorite part of the internship?

My favorite part of my experience was definitely the relationships! I built great friendships with other Inca Link interns. We spent the first week all together in Quito before traveling to our different locations. I also built great relationships with the people who worked for Inca Link. Our house parents were strong Christians and we had many great conversations. But the best part of my internship was the friendships I made with Cumbre Alta players. Although my Spanish improved by the end of my time in Ecuador, I did not speak the language very well so often times it was challenging to communicate with the players. But I was surprised by how easy it was to connect over soccer. It was great to see how a passion for soccer could unite completely different people. I am really thankful for my time in Ecuador and all the relationships I was able to build.

How will your internship experience serve you in your career search?

My experience with Inca Link and Cumbre Alta opened my heart to missions and to Ecuador. I love soccer and finance and this internship allowed me to put my two passions together. I am not sure where God will call me after graduation, but I know my internship with Inca Link taught me leadership skills and to rely on God for my strength.

Posted on October 5, 2015December 1, 2015 by Megan Cotterman — Leave a comment

Internship Spotlight: Andrea Howe

Andrea Howe, December ‘15, is a Marketing Management major from Rochester, NY. Andrea interned at Bayer Material Sciences.

Where did you intern last summer and what was your position title?

I interned at Bayer Material Sciences in Pittsburgh, PA, as a Supply Chain Intern. There are seven departments within supply chain and I was specifically assigned to the Center of Experts. My department consisted of veteran supply chain employees who focus on strategy, data analysis and process improvement for the whole supply chain center and different business units.

How did you secure your internship?

I started looking for an internship last fall semester and applied to as many companies as I could. I ultimately found my internship by working with Grove City’s Career Services Office. My advisor recommended an internship with Bayer Material Sciences. I went to the information session that Bayer hosted on campus and arrived early to introduce myself to the recruiters. A few weeks later after an interview, I received an internship offer.

What are some of the top things you learned while interning?

It is hard to condense everything I learned last summer into a few takeaways, but here are two of the main things that I learned.

I learned how large corporations operate and specifically how the supply chain supports the company as a whole.

Before my internship, I did not have much exposure to supply chains. Bayer Material Sciences is a large corporation with many different business units. While most business units are looking to create more profit for the company, the supply chain unit wants to cut costs and make the whole company more efficient. Grove City has taught me to think strategically and with my internship, I began to apply what I have learned in the classroom.

Public speaking and communications skills are really important.

During my internship, I had weekly presentations in front of a leadership team where I was required to work with PowerPoint and Excel. I began to appreciate how well Grove City College has prepared me for the business world. In my business classes I learned how to communicate effectively, sharpening my oral and written communication skills. Grove City has given me plenty of opportunities to practice working within a team both in class projects and a business plan competition. Without these experiences in class and in outside projects, I would not have been as successful in my summer internship.

Do you have any advice for students who are looking for internships?

I would offer two pieces of advice that helped me obtain my internship. First know yourself! Take the time to figure out your strengths and weaknesses and be able to articulate them. Know how to express your accomplishments in your different activities and leadership roles. Second, take advantage of all the opportunities Grove City College offers within the Career Services Office. Participate in mock interviews, the career fair and information sessions.

What was your favorite part of your internship?

I really appreciated Bayer’s well-developed internship program. I was given meaningful projects that impacted the success of the company. My favorite part of my internships was the people that I worked with. I formed great relationships with my manager, co-workers and also other supply chain interns.

How will your internship experience serve you in your career search?

After an extensive interview process towards the end of my internship, I was offered a full time job after graduation. My internship at Bayer Material Sciences allowed me to apply all the communication and business skills I have learned at Grove City and I feel more prepared for entering the marketplace after graduation.