Written by: Nicole McDavid, CAHS Career & Internship Coordinator
Kendall Etten-Bohm, Communication Arts Senior, interned in Fall 2024 at Downtown Huntsville, Inc. Kendall graciously shared his internship experience, highlighting how the education he received in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences contributed to his success.
About the Internship:
During this semester, I worked as an Event Intern at Downtown Huntsville Inc. The experience I gained throughout this internship was incredible. It allowed me to have hands-on experience while utilizing skills I had learned from my Communication Arts courses, implementing them in a professional environment for the first time. I learned so much about planning an event, everything from organizing event vendors in spreadsheets to posting about events on social media. I gained significant experience at DHI, and I am incredibly grateful for that.
How my CAHS education helped:
My CAHS education prepared me for any challenge I faced. Throughout my time at DHI, I had to create visually appealing event maps in Canva (which I learned how to do in Advertising), communicate effectively in professional settings (which I learned from nearly all of my Communication Arts courses), and edit verbiage and the design of a portion of the DHI website (which I learned in Public Relations). I worked on a wide range of projects during my time at DHI, and with each one, I drew upon my experience within my CAHS courses to help guide me as I completed them. I could not have asked for a better degree to prepare me for my experience with my internship or for better instructors to actualize these practices in a professional setting.
About Downtown Huntsville:
Downtown Huntsville, Inc. (DHI) is a not-for-profit membership organization committed to creating a vibrant, diverse, and economically sustainable downtown. Their members represent all stakeholder groups, including downtown property owners, business owners, tourist attractions, business organizations, advocacy groups, neighborhood associations, and residents from throughout the city. DHI supports and advocates for their members through master planning, research studies, and commercial and residential development to ensure Downtown Huntsville continues to thrive. Their DHI initiatives include supporting small businesses and bringing free and accessible signature events to the North Alabama community that result in more support for Huntsville businesses.
About the Communication Arts Major:
UAH's Communication Arts program provides students with practical, critical, historical, and theoretical perspectives on human communication, preparing them for work, social life, and further academic studies. The program is designed for students who can write, speak, think, analyze, and imagine, and our classes enhance all of those skills. For more information, visit the Communication Arts page on UAH’s website.
