UHCL celebrates National Intern Day
July 25 marks National Intern Day, a celebration acknowledging the significant contributions of interns across various industries. Internships serve as pivotal stepping stones for students and young professionals, offering invaluable learning experiences and opportunities for skill development. University of Houston- Clear Lake (UHCL) student, Arcelia Rodriguez, is a driven scholar currently interning in the Astronaut Appearances Office (AAO) at NASA through KBR.
“Having the opportunity to work with various mentors with different backgrounds helps clarify what career may interest me,” said Rodriguez.
Through her internship, Arcelia is learning the importance of having a flexible schedule, the ability to help others, and multitasking. She can also identify the aspects of social media that often go overlooked, and is learning about marketing processes and procedures.
Arcelia is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and expects to graduate in Spring 2026. She took the initiative to intern, honing her marketing skills that will land her the ideal career after graduation.
Attracted by UH-Clear Lake’s friendly, small, and quiet setting, Arcelia highlighted the various benefits of attending UHCL, specifically the help of the Office of Strategic Partnerships.
“I would recommend looking for an internship to help identify what you may want to do and sharpen any skills you already have,” said Arcelia. “I was emailed about this internship, but strategic partnerships helped extensively with the process of getting me here.”
Dr. Natalie Pecknold, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, said one of the core purposes of Strategic Partnerships is to increase participation in internship opportunities to help students achieve academic and professional success.
“We support several internship initiatives in partnership with industries and external organizations such as the Boeing Student Development Partnership and the KBR IMOC Internship Program,” she said.
Arcelia encourages her peers to seize opportunities to engage in the career paths they aspire to pursue.
“If you aren’t sure about whether or not to do an internship, do it."
This day represents more than a celebration for interns — it's a testament to their hard work and dedication. These programs benefit interns by providing practical skills and also enrich the organizational culture by infusing it with new ideas and perspectives. Successful internship experiences often lead to full-time employment opportunities, accentuating the importance of internships in shaping career trajectories.
For more information about internships and opportunities, visit www.uhcl.edu/strategic-partnerships/.
