University Internship Spotlight: Coleman Callan
An internship at Ouachita Baptist University for Coleman Callan turned into a life-changing opportunity.
As a sophomore at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Coleman Callan was searching for an internship that would align with his Communications and Media major. Within a few weeks, he was hired into Sodexo’s internship program working on the campus dining team and quickly found a sense of belonging.
Through the Sodexo Student Impact Internship Program, Coleman handles graphic design, marketing, and promotion of events, and assists with organizing the Ouachita Student Foundation to staff concessions.
“When I started working for Sodexo it all kind of clicked,” said Coleman. “The internship is like a real-life education located directly on a college campus. To me, an internship is super important because it helps you know what you want to do in life in a real way.”
After only two weeks into the internship, Coleman was invited to join an elite planning team, which included General Manager Jon Fitzgerald and Chef Chase Nowlin. The team would spend a three-month period planning, developing, and preparing a seven-course dinner to celebrate the 50-year partnership between Sodexo and Ouachita Baptist University.
The 50-year partnership was celebrated last November in style with the well-planned out feast for 40 key stakeholders including Dr. Ben Sells, the University President, many University deans and council members, and several of Sodexo senior leaders.
“Honestly, looking back I’m not sure how we pulled off the event in that amount of time,” said Coleman.
Little did he know the event he worked so hard on would soon yield a result he never anticipated.
Coleman was awarded a ceremonial $12,000 meal plan scholarship from Sodexo to recognize his contributions in the fall semester with marketing, operations, and campus community support.
Both the leaders from Sodexo and Ouachita Baptist University took the time to recognize Coleman’s dedication in the classroom and his invaluable work as a Sodexo Student Impact Intern.
Through his hard work, dedication and now his well-deserved scholarship, Coleman sees investment Sodexo is making for all employees to thrive.