Leadership lived: Internship experiences leads to full-time job at ADM

The University of Illinois Springfield feels like home to senior accountancy major Caitlyn Clausen. After four years at UIS, she doesn’t want to leave. However, thanks to her UIS education and leadership opportunities, she has a full-time job waiting for her after graduation.

“When I came to UIS, I really was able to get involved because of the right-sized community we have,” said Clausen. “I was able to get involved and get to know different very connected members of the UIS community quickly.”

Clausen volunteers as a tutor and mentor for freshmen enrolled in the UIS Capital Scholars Honors program. She sits down with them every week answering questions about math, accountancy, business courses, and often life.

“I really enjoy doing it,” said Clausen. “I didn’t realize I wanted to tutor people until my sophomore year.”

She also volunteers as treasurer of the Alternative Spring Break group, which recently traveled to New Orleans over spring break to help repair hurricane damaged homes. Clausen is also active in the Springfield community helping with UIS’ Trick or Treat for Canned Goods campaign. The effort collected over 6,500 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank.

“The way that UIS’ staff, administration, and faculty encourages students to get involved and become leaders really influenced my drive towards taking on bigger roles in different organizations, clubs, and representing the university as a whole,” said Clausen.

Clausen also works as a Student Ambassador in the UIS Admissions Office giving prospective students tours of campus and representing UIS at college fairs.

This past summer, Caitlyn landed an internship at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in Decatur. The company liked her work so much, that they’ve offered her a full-time staff account job upon graduation in May.

“I am just so lucky and thankful that that internship experience not only afforded me experience (that) looks good on a resume, but also resulted in a full-time job offer,” she said.

Looking back at all of the opportunity-rich experiences she’s had at UIS over the past four years, she’s thankful that she made the right college choice.

“I knew I made the right decision coming in here my freshman year. This is where I wanted to be,” said Clausen.