Gianna Miceli interned at Warren Achievement Center, a nonprofit that assists people with disabilities. She helped plan a fundraising event that raised awareness for a new facility. She spoke publicly about the organization and helped coordinate sorority volunteers. Miceli gained skills in public speaking, writing, event planning and felt proud of successfully executing a large event. She reflected that the internship allowed her to get involved in the community and prove her professional abilities.

1. Gianna Miceli
Internship Reflection and Evaluation Essay
Professor McGaan
December 1, 2016
This semester, I was honored enough to be able to work for Warren Achievement Center
corporate office in Monmouth, Illinois. I was open to do almost anything for my internship. I
applied to multiple different organizations in the suburbs of Chicago, but never really heard back
from any. I was referred to Sean Cavanaugh at Warren Achievement Center by Dr. Lee McGaan.
I came into his office crying at the end of junior year because I did not have an internship lined
up for the summer yet. Warren Achievement Center provides opportunities for persons with
intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn and be acting members of the community.
Overview
I talked on the radio and spoke at Chamber of Commerce meetings and was a guest
speaker at Kiwanis Club. I’ve also written some articles for Warren Achievement Center’s
newsletter and some have appeared in the Monmouth Review Atlas newspaper.
The Campaign Kick-off event was scheduled for November 19th at the Warren History
museum in town. The tickets were $50 per person. We wanted to have this kick-off event to get
the community thinking about our campaign. We are trying to spark interest in helping build this
new facility. Everyone already knows who Warren Achievement Center is, but they do not know
about this new day-program facility. My goal was to have the whole community well aware of
this campaign and to get everyone excited about it. At the campaign kick-off, there was delicious
food catered by Aramark and alcohol served with entertainment from the Monmouth College
Improv Team. I really wanted to give the community a glimpse of what all this money will go to

2. so we will be having the architects Klinger & Associates presenting the schematics plan of the
new building. And that would involve a virtual tour. Rick Barnill the CEO at Warren
Achievement Center, and Sean were speakers. Silent auction items were donated from local
businesses. We had 13 sponsors at $500 each. It was a great event and I am so excited to be a
part of such a tremendous campaign.
On top of planning this event, I was working with my sorority, Pi Beta Phi, to adopt a
house from Warren Achievement Center. With that, we send 4-5 women weekly into one of the
households. The women can play games, cook dinner, watch television, help pick out clothes for
the week, really anything that makes the achievers happy. It is something so small, but you
would not believe how excited the achievers would be to have some new faces mixing it up with
them. My end goal for this project is to set up houses with at least each sorority on campus. I
would love to get more than just Fraternity and Sorority life involved. We have talked with other
organizations on campus that are interested in the Adopt a house process, as well.
The most memorable and rewarding thing for me was the day of the event. When it
finished, I could not believe that I helped put it all together. I was so proud of myself for all the
work I had done and getting up in front of everyone to speak. I proved to myself that I was
capable of planning and executing an event for 100 people. At the end of the event, everyone
kept coming up to me to tell me I did a good job. I was very pleased with the food, bartender,
and space. I do not think we missed anything in the planning process.
Review of Learning Goals
We created a plan to success for me involving public speaking, writing, planning an
event, talking on the radio, all things to would better me for life after graduation. This was based

3. off of the learning goals addressed in the internship contract I created. In the contract I stated that
I wanted to improve written, interpersonal, and oral communication skill, develop professional
level organizational abilities, become skillful in preparing marketing materials and turning
concepts into tangible messages, gain familiarity with a professional workplace, make
connections, plan an event, and learn the sides of a non-profit organization.
I firmly believe I was able to meet all of my learning goals. I improved my written skills
by writing monthly articles for Warren Achievement Center’s newsletter, which some appearing
in the Review Atlas. I spoke monthly on the radio and that helped me get more comfortable
through that form of communication.
My interpersonal skills enhanced because every day I was talking to someone new. Sean
and I would go around town asking for businesses to participate in sponsorships or raffle item
donations. With the sponsorships, sometimes we had to check in a few times with a business
because they had not decided yet. This meant that we had to continue to persuade them it was a
good choice to invest in our campaign. This also helped me make connections. I was constantly
keeping in touch with people for the event and with that, I made sure we would talk about other
stuff so that it was not strictly business.
I easily met the goal of developing professional level organizational abilities because I
was balancing school, internship, newspaper, speech assistant, Mortar Board, Order of Omega,
and my sorority all in one semester. I quickly learned how valuable time management and how
to get ahead whenever possible.
Working on the whole campaign kick-off event was helping me create marketing
materials and turn concepts into tangible messages. We were taking our ideas, for example like
our slogan “Building a Better Future”, and turning them into messages for the whole community.

4. The slogan shows that we need to raise money for a new building, but the new building will
mean a better future because of better living standards for our achievers.
From the first day, I think I was able to fit right into the professional work environment.
We had daily meetings with Rick, the CEO, to discuss what we had gotten done and what we
plan to do the next day. This helped because I was able to keep accountable and check in with
my boss.
I was a part of the planning and executing process for the capital campaign kick-off event
on November 19th. I was in charge of: finding a space to hold everyone in attendance, a caterer,
bartender, music, and entertainment. I helped pick out the menu to be served and what type of
alcohol should be present. We had to get contracts created by the History Museum and alcohol
being served at the event needed to be passed by the museum board and Warren Achievement
Center board. I helped decide how much tickets would be. We ordered center pieces for each
table. We got sponsors and raffle item donations for the event. The day before the event, Sean
and I set up.
I learned the different sides of a non-profit organization by working in the office and
going into the houses. There is so much more that goes into a successful non-profit organization.
I learned that the state does not set aside a of money for each individual achiever to be used on
sanitary products. So, Sean and I were able to receive donations from AmericInn of all the mini
samples like deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner. Once a week, I was able to go into one of the
houses and work with the achievers. I also learned that Warren Achievement Center has a
committee set up to watch over their money and they decide what to do with it. We had to ask
them for money for the new day program facility.

5. Evaluation
When designing the invitations and programs, it really helped having taken Layout &
Design and Multi-Media Production with professor Goble. I was able to understand and focus in
on where the viewer would look most. I remember we did a path ad in one of the classes where
we had to use hierarchy to draw the viewers’ attention in and direct them to look at the next
thing. I think we were able to do this in the invitations and programs with the different colors and
positioning of sentences.
Any communication class that involved public speaking helped because I was working on
getting up in front of different groups of people to present. I did this a lot during my internship
because I spoke at Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, on the radio, and at the event. I was nervous
at first, but the more I continued to do it, the more comfortable I got with it. I also feel that being
a speech assistant helped because I was aware of how to make and present a speech. One thing I
pride myself on is that I rarely say “um” when presenting and that is because I saw how irritating
it was when I would speech assist the COMM 101 classes.
I do not feel that my into to Public Relations class taught me anything while attending
Monmouth College. It was taught by Tessa, who is not here anymore. I think Public Relations
would have helped a lot during my internship because it was all about making connections
within the community and getting the name of Warren Achievement Center out there.
Overall, the communication department at Monmouth College has shaped me into the
communicator I am today. I saw through my internship that I was able to communicate and
interact with so many different people. Also, I was able to use multiple different mediums like a
newsletter, radio, or face to face.

6. Reflection
I am really happy with the work I have done with my internship. I truly think it has
helped me become more involved in the community. I am not just attending Monmouth College,
but I am living in Monmouth. I think all students should have the opportunity to get involved and
experience Monmouth the way I have. I am fully committed to helping and supporting the
community during the rest of the time I have left at Monmouth College. I have already seen the
little impact I have made this semester and I would like to continue next semester.
Like I have stated before, I proved to myself that I was capable of putting on an event for
100 people. I showed myself I am responsible enough to have these duties and participate in the
workforce. I learned how to cope when something goes wrong and how to make it better. For
example, we were running into problems with alcohol being served. We cleared it up by talking
to Paul at city Hall and the Police Chief. We also had to buy our wine from Barnstormer’s
instead of Market Alley Wine because a licensed bartender needs to uncork all wine and place it
on the table for the attendees to pour. I learned that I enjoy public speaking and interacting with
large crowds.
I found out I am really good planning and organizing. I knew I was good before, but this
semester took it to the extreme with everything I had to balance. If I said I was going to do
something, I was going to get it done. I made daily lists for myself and I enjoyed crossing off the
things I had accomplished. I also was able to ask questions when I did not understand something.
I proved to myself that it is okay to speak up and I do not look dumb if I do not understand
something. I was just trying to keep up with the conversation and get my full understanding of
what was happening.

7. I could always use more work on my public speaking skills. I feel like this is a skill
someone could always improve. No matter how good you are, you could be better. It is
something you have to keep up with and regularly do to not look or sound nervous.
I went into the internship thinking I wanted to work for a non-profit organization or a
printing company. After completing the internship, I still want to do that. However, if I am to
work for a non-profit organization, I would like to interact more with the people I am helping. I
do not want to be stuck in the office all day. I want to get out and know the people who are being
changed by my work. The internship made me realize I would also be happy working for an
event planning organization. I enjoyed the pressure and working towards a goal and then seeing
that goal come to life.
As for my personal goals, I do not think anything has changed. I have become more open
to opportunities within non-profit organizations, printing, or event planning companies. I want to
be successful. I want to enjoy what I am doing every day. I want to see progress in my work. I
want to make a difference, whether it be big or small. I want to know I am doing something for
the greater good. I want to make people smile and happy with my work.