The Henry H. Bolz endowed internship was created specifically for the Tabor School of Business by Millikin University alumni Chris Olsen and Deborah Moore Olsen, class of 1974. This internship was established in honor of Mr. Olsen’s grandfather, the late Henry H. Bolz, who was the Executive Director for the Metro Decatur Chamber of Commerce for more than thirty years.

“This is a very special and exciting internship opportunity. What’s so exciting is that this places a Millikin student in a paid internship working directly with the Chamber of Commerce,” President Patrick White said. “They get to work on economic development in the community and help the Chamber promote the businesses they help.”

The internship counts as three credit hours, pays $10 per hour, and requires the student to work a minimum of eight hours a week. A few of the requirements for application is a minimum of 3.5 GPA, excellent communication skills, and an interest in community service.

“This internship completely fits with the view that Millikin is Decatur’s university,” White said. “We really are grateful to Chris and Deborah and their families for supporting this internship.”

Molly Yablon, a junior business management major, is the first student to get the internship.

“I saw the signs [advertising it] hanging in Scovill, and I decided to go for it and turn in an application,” Yablon said. “I first had to interview with the Dean of the school of business. It was like a screening so they didn’t send too many people over to the Chamber. After I made it past that, my second interview was at the Chamber of Commerce.”

Yablon started the internship on January 26 and will go until the end of this school year.

“I work Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Currently, I am working on editing the website. I’m putting in a business advocacy part, and I’ve been doing research on what it means [in regards] to the Chamber,” Yablon said.

She will also be participating in the CIRCLE Lobby Day in Springfield, Illinois on April 30.

“Iwill be advocating for the businesses we represent and do interviews with all the people running for city council and mayor,” Yablon said.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had thirty or forty of these to give out? It would be great to have some that could be worked in the summer,” White said. “This is one more opportunity for students within Millikin’s performance learning initiatives.”

“The most beneficial part is working with the man who runs communications [at the Chamber]. We share an office, and he looks over all of my work. He’s teaching me so much about how to word things, shorten emails, be assertive, and so much about managing in general,” Yablon said. “I think that everyone there is so nice. [This internship is] an invaluable experience. You’re at the forefront of a small business, which is cool. It would be very beneficial for anyone.”

For more information on the Henry H. Bolz endowed internship program, contact Marianne Taylor, Tabor Internship and MBA Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or 217-424-3503.