Internships Make All the Difference

Meet Jim Myers ('22), Aviation Business Administration

Internship: Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)

What were your responsibilities?

I regularly tracked fatal experimental aircraft crashes so we can interpret patterns or commonalities between them. I also checked the Federal Register for legislation or policy that would affect the experimental aviation community. During AirVenture, I was in charge of planning a Wisconsin State Legislature visit and Governor's visit. 

What were the highlights of the internship?

I had the chance to go up onto the air boss stand to listen to the pilots and get one of the best views possible. Since our museum is attached to our headquarters building, I was able to explore the museum all the time after work.

What was the most fun you had during the internship?

EAA hosts AirVenture, also known as the World's Greatest Aviation Celebration. This year over 642,000 people attended during the week and more than 10,000 aircraft flew in. It's simply amazing to see every aspect of aviation all in one spot. I got to witness the whole process from start to finish. 

How did Embry-Riddle prepare you for the internship?

Embry-Riddle hosts Career Expos every semester in which more than 100 employers come to campus. At the Spring Career Expo, I saw EAA and decided to talk to them. After our conversation, they encouraged me to apply online. A couple of week later I was asked to do a phone interview with the Government Team. Later on, they let me know they wanted me to come to Oshkosh for their summer internship.

What was your biggest takeaway from this experience?

Constantly network, pushing yourself to make connections will have unforeseen benefits in the future, especially from internships.