Building on decades of partnership and cooperation, the McPherson Museum and Arts Foundation and McPherson College have announced a new internship program designed to provide students the opportunity to real work experience in a variety of degree paths while helping the museum continue in its mission of preserving the history of McPherson.
McPherson College understands the value of combining classroom learn with real world application and prides itself on helping students to find opportunities and avenues for career exploration and professional development.
Michael Schneider, McPherson College president, said it was a great partnership.
“We value our relationship with the McPherson Museum,” he said. “The diverse experiences that they can provide our students will support our career-oriented focus.”
Anna Ruxlow, McPherson Museum and Arts Foundation director, said that the Museum and McPherson College have a long history together – more than a century long. McPherson College created the museum in Sharp Hall in the late 1890s, with a few fossils and artifacts housed in old Sharp Hall. The McPherson Museum is now caretaker for more than 10,000 McPherson College artifacts.
The new internship opportunities created in partnership with the McPherson Museum will allow students to apply academic principles while acquiring new skills sets and experiences that are invaluable to success following graduation.
Ruxlow said the museum will benefit from the program as well, as students can help the staff continue in its mission of sharing the history of McPherson.
“An internship program between the McPherson Museum and McPherson College will continue to foster the long-standing relationship,” Ruxlow said, “And provide educational opportunities for students beyond the classroom setting while they assist the museum with the research, restoration and exhibition of these wonderful pieces of McPherson College history.”
Internship opportunities will vary in responsibility and duration, but may include labeling and categorizing the museum’s archives, planning and running special events, leading tours, creating signs and graphics for exhibits and assisting the director with financial statements or tracking fundraising campaigns. Students selected for the program will be eligible to earn academic credit for their work and can apply for multiple positions during their time at McPherson College.
With the creation of the internship program, McPherson College not only continues its support of the McPherson Museum but also its dedication to career readiness and unique learning opportunities for students in all degree areas and professional paths.