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Profile
of Sean McGuire, Intern, Venture Outdoors, 7/07
by Casey Buxton, PPW/Writing Center Publicity Intern
 Shaun
McGuire is a PPW student entering his senior year at Pitt. After
attending Harrisburg Area Community College for two years, he transferred
to Pitt as an Information Science major and Sociology minor. Shaun
decided to join the PPW program as a way to balance his technology-heavy
major with a certificate that exhibits an ability to communicate
professionally--allowing him a more well rounded academic foundation.
His passion for the environment led him to Venture Outdoors, where
the mission is to “leave no Pittsburgher inside.” Following
a recommendation from Pam O’Brien, Shaun contacted the nonprofit
organization for internship opportunities. He immediately found
the staff laid back, expert, and fun to workwith. Shaun fit right
in. Working mostly with his supervisor, Shaun appreciated the direct
working relationship with his co-workers, saying, “I liked
it that way because it was easy to get help or answers to questions.”
As the intern, Shaun spent most of his time researching and writing
grant proposals to fund the plans and projects of Venture Outdoors
(a new experience for the Information Science major). In addition,
Shaun works on applications and other documents dealing in the grant
process, such as tables, budgets, and partner lists.
His best moment at his internship has been completing a grant application
and seeing the process firmly underway. He considers Venture Outdoors
a possible venue to launch a career--assuming they’ll pay
him the second time around. He feels his time spent at this nonprofit
has been completely worthwhile, despite having to balance nine additional
credit hours and a job.
After his experience at Venture Outdoors, Shaun feels more comfortable
in his post-graduate job search and prepared for a professional
environment that only an internship can provide. He aspires to be
a web designer for a living, working from a mountain-top home. And
when he’s not creating innovative web designs, he wants to
save the Earth.
Shaun’s advice to interns: Work Hard!
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