More Than Coffee Runs: Meet Our Summer Makerspace Interns

‍Written By: Kaitlin Streator, BB2C Communications and Engagement Coordinator

Kunze and Lankford work on their stained-glass projects in the Makerspace

When you think of interns, the image of an anxious student being tasked with endless coffee runs might come to mind. Or perhaps you picture a bored student relegated to filing paperwork and completing the “busy work” regular staff wants to avoid. As an organization that prides itself on connecting students with real-world, hands-on experiences, we strive to offer something different. We don't want to provide a “typical” internship—we want to deliver a meaningful experience that encourages students to try new things and grow both personally and professionally.

To ensure we are living up to that standard, we sat down with two of our summer college interns. We wanted to see what they think of their experience so far and what they hope to accomplish before heading back to campus for the fall semester.

“I am definitely afraid to make mistakes, but being here has taught me it’s okay to mess up, and it’s actually a very important step in the learning process,” said Kamden Lankford, a college intern from Fairmont State University. Lankford will be a senior this year, majoring in Exercise Physiology with a minor in Nutrition.

“You might be wondering why I am interning at BB2C, given my major has nothing to do with the organization,” Lankford said. “I have always loved creating things, and about a year ago, I started coming to the Makerspace to work on projects. My favorite thing to do here is 3D modeling and printing. After consistently coming in to work on my projects, I got to know Jared (Makerspace Director) and heard about the Makerspace internship. I thought it would be a very cool opportunity, so I decided to pursue it.”

Lankford says he has enjoyed working on many different projects at the Makerspace.

Lankford has been helping Makerspace Director Jared Wittekind and Assistant Director Holly Hamrick plan and run the summer STEAM Camps. Through this, he has been able to learn about all of the different programs and services the Makerspace provides to its members.

“I feel like I have gained a lot of knowledge in various things, from the woodshop, 3D printing, and stained glass, to even sewing. I would never have guessed I would learn a skill like sewing in my internship. It's skills like this that make me love coming to work.”

Lankford was able to put his knowledge to the test when he was tasked with teaching the middle school STEAM campers how to work with micro:bits—a pocket-sized, programmable mini-computer designed to teach coding and electronics.

“This was a challenge for me because I was not confident in my ability to teach these kids about something on my own… but in this environment, it was okay for me to mess up, and that’s a key part of this story. So of course, as soon as I started working with the kids, I messed up. But the more I taught, the better I got at teaching them. We both learned something, and that’s what it’s all about.”

With one camp now under his belt, Lankford is well-prepared for the High School STEAM Camp later this summer.

“I am excited to work with the high school kids at the upcoming camp. We have some cool projects we are doing with them, so that should be good. As far as the rest of the summer goes, I have a few personal projects I’d like to get done, so I am hoping to utilize the spaces here at the Makerspace as much as possible in my downtime.”

Outside of his time at the Makerspace, Lankford doesn't actually have much downtime. He’s training for a 70.3 Ironman in late September with the hopes of one day achieving a full Ironman. A 70.3 Ironman is a triathlon that consists of a 1.2-mile open-water swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run.

“I grew up playing soccer and quit when I entered college. Because I played sports throughout my life, I have learned to love practicing every day to work towards a goal. I think achieving something you think is challenging shows you that you can do anything you put your mind to. I believe that is a powerful tool you can carry with you for the rest of your life.”

While Lankford is our Cardio King, our other intern, Brandice Kunze, is our Powerlifting Princess. When she’s not in the Makerspace with Lankford, she’s at the gym deadlifting 300 lbs and squatting 290 lbs. But —she’s not all brawn. She has proven to be a quick learner in the Makerspace sewing room and can also fashion herself her own embroidered clothes.

“My favorite thing learning-wise was learning how to sew. I've definitely found a passion in it,” Kunze said. “My favorite hands-on work experience was the middle school camp. I already had experience with kindergarten through fifth graders, so being able to experience working with kids who are a little bit older was a lot of fun."

Kunze said she has also really enjoyed connecting with some of the BB2C staff members—especially Jenna Stewart, BB2C’s Career Pathway Specialist.

"She connects with the children in a way that not many adults can do. No matter how complicated a child is, she is able to connect with them. I just really look up to her because of the way she communicates,” Kunze said. "All the women here I really look up to. [Tasha Werry] is such a strong, independent woman—a queen in the workplace."

Kunze, who is a Sally Evans Intern with BB2C this summer, perfectly embodies the kind of young adult this internship program aims to support: “gifted young leaders to lead a purposeful life in service of others – seeking through their leadership to attain higher goals that transcend their individual interests.”

Kunze says learning how to sew has been one of her favorite parts about her internship.

Kunze, who will be a junior at Marietta College, is majoring in Marketing and hopes to one day enter the pharmaceutical sales field. While she is spending a lot of time in the Makerspace, she is also helping with some marketing and communications initiatives alongside Communications and Engagement Coordinator Kaitlin Streator.

“Brandice is a joy to work with and is so willing to learn. She has grown a lot in her interviewing and video editing skills, and I look forward to working with her as we promote upcoming Makerspace events,” Streator said.

While Kunze is only 20 years old, she is wise beyond her years and has some wisdom to pass along to others.

"If I could give advice to anyone, especially to young girls who come from low-income families, it is to just reach out for help when it comes to school. Reach out to people who can get you connected to other people who can get you the financial aid,” Kunze said. "Last year, my dad and I were paying $600 a month for tuition, and it was just so much on us. I was working 35 hours a week to pay for my portion, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to continue going to Marietta. So, I reached out to my teachers and the financial office, and they got me connected with local scholarships."

Kunze was also recently accepted into Marietta College’s Fifth Street Consulting, a student-led, faculty-advised firm specializing in communication and media consulting.

“I'm pretty excited about it,” Kunze said. “It's hands-on experience with consulting, marketing, advertising, and public relations with a local nonprofit”—something she will have plenty of experience doing after her internship with BB2C.

To follow along with what Lankford and Kunze are up to the rest of the summer, make sure to follow BB2C and the Makerspace on Facebook and Instagram, where you may just see them in a funny video reel or STEAM Camp photo dump.