Greetings, Franklin College alumni and friends!
One of the distinctions of the Franklin College education is the wealth of ways our students can apply knowledge beyond the classroom. Internships are an essential part of that journey, giving students the ability to solve real-world problems, develop professional skills and build the confidence they need for successful careers. Many of these pathways are made possible because alumni and friends are willing to open doors for our students.
A recent example of this impact is Franklin College senior Julius Choga ’26, who was honored as Indiana’s College Work-Based Learner of the Year by the Institute for Workforce Excellence, a nonprofit subsidiary of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. Julius, an international student from Harare, Zimbabwe, studying software engineering, received the award for his work during a summer internship with the information technology and cybersecurity team at the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
Julius was tasked with addressing a long-standing operational challenge: developing a system to track the thousands of physical keys used across the airport’s maintenance operations. He designed and built a database to manage the keys, created an interface that allowed employees across departments to easily use the system, and trained staff on how to implement it. The new system improved efficiency by an estimated 90%.
Julius’ internship reflects what we hear from employers frequently that Franklin College students are creative, industrious and eager to learn. Experiential learning allows them to demonstrate those qualities while gaining practical knowledge and building relationships with mentors in their chosen fields.
Moments like this often happen because industry partners help create them, and those partners are often alumni. In this case, Franklin College alumnus Evan Downey ’16, Student Success Program Manager with the Indianapolis Airport Authority, helped make Julius’ internship possible.
Julius’ story underscores the importance of internships and other immersive learning. Franklin College was an early leader among liberal arts colleges in Indiana in providing this type of real-world application of theory for our students. We remain committed to
this aspect of each student’s college career, and these experiences have been critical in helping graduates secure quality employment.
I hope you will consider being part of that process. If you are in a position to host an intern, I encourage you to reach out to me. Programs like the one Julius pursued can shape a student’s future while also bringing energy, talent and new ideas to your organization. Together, we can continue preparing Franklin College students for meaningful careers that make a real difference in their professions and communities.
Kerry N. Prather President
"It was a genuine pleasure working with Julius during his internship. As the internship program manager, it was especially rewarding to see a fellow Grizzly make such a meaningful impact. Experiences like this highlight the reciprocal value of alumni supporting current students with internship opportunities. Organizations gain fresh ideas and talent, while students gain hands-on experience that accelerates their growth.”
--- Evan Downey ’16, Student Success Program Manager with the Indianapolis Airport Authority.
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