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Junior Lauren Bogar (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) created a media database and published a feature article in Healthy Aging magazine while working in The Franklin Institute Science Museum’s public relations department this summer.
Not only did she learn valuable skills, she will receive academic credit for her work through Lafayette’s business and economics department.
Bogar interned at the institute under the supervision of Evan Welsh, director of public relations and communications, and Emily Reynolds, communications manager. She found the opening through Lafayette’s Career Services Job Vault.
“Lauren was a wonderful intern,” says Reynolds. “She was dedicated, reliable, responsible, curious, hard working, and eager to learn. Her presence was a welcome, refreshing addition to our department.”
“I decided to get an internship so I could gain real world work experience at a reputable enterprise in a field in which I was highly interested,” explains Bogar, a double major in Spanish and international economics and commerce. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to intern at The Franklin Institute because I knew that it would provide these opportunities.”
Bogar says her internship focused on “gaining a complete understanding of the function of public relations in a major non-profit corporation.” Her duties included writing press releases, media alerts, and articles, compiling research on local and national media publications, and communicating internally and externally about the features and events held at the institute. Her most noteworthy accomplishments include the creation of a media database for the public relations department and writing a feature-length article about the Secrets of Aging Exhibit, which was printed in Healthy Living magazine and distributed to 25,000 senior citizens.
“We attempt to offer a rewarding experience for our interns and expose them to the nuts and bolts of public relations,” explains Reynolds. “Lauren was an integral part of the office and involved in all activities. I think she learned a great deal here, and we benefited by having Lauren here to help alleviate our workload and provide assistance. Also, we use our new media database daily, thanks to her.”
“I had some wonderful experiences with members of the press as well as my co-workers,” says Bogar. “I learned valuable communications skills that will no doubt serve me in the future. Not only was I exposed to the field of public relations, I learned quite a bit about marketing, promotions, and sales.”
“I really liked knowing that my ideas and my accomplishments were taken seriously,” she adds. “I was able to put so many of my creative ideas to life, and see my work come to fruition.”
Bogar is a member of Sigma Delta Pi, the national Spanish honors fraternity, and has made dean’s list every semester. She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and its Panhellenic delegate. She serves as a resident adviser in the sorority house and is a member of Kappa Residence Hall Council. Bogar has also participated in Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection and club field hockey. In her free time, she takes yoga and cardio karate classes and enjoys horseback riding.