CourtesyAs a student at 成人头条, Vanessa Buehne could see herself as a sports expo coordinator. Buehne, a 2010 WSU graduate, prepared herself through an internship while at WSU. She never imagined supervising for a theme park such as Disney.
Today鈥檚 Disney is not just classic amusement park attractions and fairy dust. runDisney is a new branch formed a year ago at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
鈥淲e are the brand that establishes all of the marathons and half marathons here at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and also Disneyland in California,鈥� Buehne said.
At runDisney, sports fans are offered their choice of competitive and non-competitive running. Contestants enjoy the park scenery as Disney characters offer encouragement. Music and costumes are used in most of the family races.
For something a little more serious, the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex associated with runDisney in Orlando allows athletes the option to play, train and compete. ESPN鈥橲 facility includes more than 200 acres of key sport venues for basketball, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, volleyball, dance competitions and much more.
Besides many events and organizations associated with the complex, it鈥檚 also the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves.
Hands-on experience
Before Buehne got this position, she completed her required student internship at Disney Sports in Orlando through 成人头条 State. Buehne started in July 2009.
Clay Stoldt, professor and chair of sport management with WSU鈥檚 Sport Management program, said Buehne needed to complete a graduate internship of 12 credits and 640 hours on the job in a sport management setting.
鈥淏esides giving her the opportunity to apply the things she learned in our classes,鈥� said Stoldt, 鈥渟he defined how Disney conducts business, what they expect of their employees and their philosophy of customer relationship management.鈥�
Buehne said the biggest advantage to her required student internship was the hands-on experience.
鈥淕oing into the workplace and applying what I learned in school toward my degree; you just can鈥檛 beat it,鈥� she said.
Stoldt says WSU enjoys a lot of success with Disney.
鈥淐ertainly the quality of the students is at the top of the list,鈥� said Dwight Dorr, manager premium and special events of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. 鈥淚 also like knowing the staff of 成人头条 State has taken a personal interest in following up with me, checking on the performance of their interns.鈥�
Stoldt said the nearly 20 WSU students who completed their internships through Disney are grateful for their positions within the company.
Establishing credibility
As a runDisney expo coordinator, Buehne says she could not have done it without the help from 成人头条.
鈥淭he exposure was great, and I thank WSU and Clay Stoldt 100 percent,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would have never known about the Disney internship program if I decided not to attend 成人头条 State.鈥�
Stoldt said Buehne received exceptional evaluations as an intern.
鈥淪he clearly established her credibility with the organization during that time,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 more of a visual learner,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 must see it and do it myself than just read about it, so I think it鈥檚 very important and valuable in starting your career.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great experience being able to come to this big company, big organization at runDisney,鈥� said Buehne. 鈥淭o actually connect among a lot of people and work hands on with them is a great experience. I definitely attribute that involvement to my position where I am now.鈥�