Kerrigan Hurney ’24, a communication studies and public relations major, worked as a public relations specialist intern for Workplace Options (WPO) over the summer, gaining hands-on experience in the public relations industry. Alan King ’84, a Harrington School alum and Advisory Council member, is the CEO of WPO, which provides employee well-being solutions to organizations.
As an intern, she learned key public relations skills, including pitching media, creating campaign strategies, using industry-standard software, and writing press releases. Looking back, she said the part of the experience that sticks out the most was organizing and analyzing the company’s media statistics and pitching creative marketing ideas to a global audience, including businesses in Australia, London, and China.
“From my internship at Workplace Options, I have gained a new and innovative perspective on what it means to be successful in the field of PR,” she said. “I had the opportunity to collaborate with people from different backgrounds, and I learned how to actively engage with an audience, no matter where they’re from.”
Hurney says the experience has helped her prepare for her public relations career after graduation.
“I can say with confidence that interning at Workplace Options helped me to enhance my communication skill-sets and prepared me to take on the real world.”
The industry collaborations in the Harrington School allow students to explore and gain experience in the career paths they hope to pursue.
“Being able to gain hands-on experience within my career field has allowed me to find validation in knowing this is something I want to do with my life,” she said. “At the same time, I get to go into my senior year with a newfound confidence, knowing that I have gained skills and knowledge that will last me a lifetime.”
Experiential learning and networking opportunities can be transformative experiences in a student’s college career. Through the support of our donors, the Harrington School provides financial assistance for internships, conferences, and networking events. Support our students with a donation to the Harrington RhodyNow Fund.
