Joe HartupWhen most kids were going to amusement parks or playing video games during the summer, Shanna Hein was developing her attachment for museums.
鈥淎s a kid my grandparents would take me on vacation for two weeks,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e could go anywhere in the U.S., but it needed to be educational or meaningful to get something from it.鈥�
From the museum visits, Hein grew so interested in cultures and human behaviors that she decided to major in anthropology.
Then while a student at 成人头条, she took three semesters of internships and volunteered in her field with WSU鈥檚 Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program.
鈥淚 wanted to get a sense on where my liberal arts degree in anthropology was taking me, because at the time you really have no idea," she said.
She was employed at the Museum of World Treasures as an intern while earning credit hours through co-op.
鈥淓ventually I cataloged curatorial items and tended to ancient artifacts,鈥� said Hein. 鈥淚 did some exhibit projects and touched on multiple subjects. I enjoyed it.鈥�
She said the hands-on experience she gained played out well to benefit her.
鈥淚 started going back to 成人头条 State as a returning adult when my daughter entered kindergarten, that way I could provide for her and my family,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t took me almost six years to complete, but well worth it.鈥�
Hein a 2010 WSU graduate is now the director of operations for the Kansas Aviation Museum. It accommodates more than 40 one-of-a-kind aircraft, numerous airplane and jet engines, photos, books and memorabilia. The museum is located inside the building that once operated 成人头条鈥檚 municipal airport terminal during the 1930s and 1940s.
Love of adventure
Even though she sits behind a desk, Hein still enjoys hunting and locating time-worn information.
Why the transition from mummies to aeronautical antiquities?
鈥淭hey offered a better position and a higher level of income from my last job,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o I made the move to get the training and I haven鈥檛 regretted it.鈥�
鈥淭hink of it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he reaction to finding where Indians lived and roamed, or where Civil War soldiers once camped. Until its right in front of you, it鈥檚 not real. It鈥檚 just a story.鈥�
She is especially passionate about exhibits.
鈥淐reating, designing, doing the research and finding any object of great value,鈥� Hein said, 鈥渢hen putting it all together for a unique learning adventure I just love it.鈥�
She also works directly with the same co-op department that once helped her. Hein encourages new students to develop the right stuff for their own occupational or educational objectives.
鈥淚 push everybody,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you acquire the opportunity to do it, do it. You get credit for it and you just can鈥檛 beat it.鈥�
Museums educate and preserve the progress of people throughout the centuries, which Hein continues to cherish.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in front of those treasures, you get a sense of a connection to the past that you don鈥檛 get anywhere else,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just read about it- you must experience it.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like a treasure hunt,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know that my discovery is there I just need to look for it.鈥�