Application Tips and Advice from SIP Alumni

The 2023-2024 SIP Applications are now open! Click HERE to review position descriptions and submit your application HERE. The deadline to apply is March 24th, 2023 by 11:59 p.m.

At the last cohort meeting, SIP interns had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with UK SIP alumni and hear their advice for applying to the SIP, managing the workload, and finding a career in the sustainability sector. Students spoke with Quincy Ipsaro, who is currently pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Cincinnati; Sophie Beavin, who currently works for the U.S. Forest Service’s Conservation Finance Team; Cassie Odom, a Project Development Analyst with the City of Indianapolis; and Feyi Afolabi, a Senior Silicon Design Engineer in the gaming power and performance team at AMD. Quincy, Sophie, Cassie, and Feyi are all alumni of the Sustainability Internship Program at UK.

This insightful Q&A below is just one example of the resources and networking opportunities awaiting students who are involved in the SIP. Applications for 2023-2024 are open NOW and you can find the full list of available positions here. Continue reading for more advice on how to apply!

What was the SIP application process like for you?

Quincy Ipsaro: “I just read through the list of descriptions of all the available positions. The Built environment position seemed like the most interesting one to me, personally, so I only applied to one. Luckily, I got it, because it turned into a great experience for me. I just picked the one that I thought I would like to work in the most, but I think it would be cool to do one position for one year and maybe switch positions the next year to get varied experiences.”

Feyi: “I read through the whole list, and I knew that the utility position was the one I wanted to do. I was taking some classes that were kind of related to that, so I felt like it would be a great next step.”

Sophie: “Like Quincy, I also only applied to one, which was the Recycling position. When I went to fill out the application, I thought I might be interested in multiple positions. Once I started writing and filling out the application, I realized I had the most compelling answers for the Recycling position. That’s the biggest piece of advice I’ll share; if you find something that interests you, you’ll be able to answer the application questions a lot easier.”

How did you navigate carrying the task of your SIP project along with your class workload?

Cassie: “In terms of time management, I tried to stick to my designated hours to focus on work. I was lucky to be studying Geography and ENS, which are two majors that coincide with my internship. During my senior year, when I was tackling my capstone project, independent project, and other various extracurriculars, I would speak to my professors and see if there was some way to tie my classwork into my internship.”

How do you feel like your time in this internship helped you prepare for the work that you’re doing now?

Feyi: “It helped me a lot, especially my second year because I got to go to the substations with the engineers and learn about the components there. Once I finished the semester in 2019, I was able to get a job at Schneider, and most of the stuff I did there was very close to the things that I learned in my internship. From there, I went back to UK for graduate school and I already knew what I enjoyed doing, so SIP also helped me know what I was going to do for my thesis. Once I finished graduate school in 2021, I knew exactly what kind of roles that I wanted to work in. Right now, I’m an engineer at AMD and we design processors. I’m on the team that designed the chip for the PS5 and the Xbox. Most of what we do is the performance and power stuff. The internship really helped me get the job that I wanted and the role that I wanted, as well.”

Sophie: “I am working for the U.S. forest service on their conservation finance team. We’re all about setting up public-private partnerships to help get projects done faster and on a bigger landscape. My time as an intern with UK Recycling and then also as a graduate assistant with the Office of Sustainability really aligned with what I’m doing now. As an intern, I learned a lot about how to implement activities to meet programmatic goals, and how to grow and manage a program. I also learned a lot about partnerships and collaboration. I also think the internship is great because it gives you access to a network of a lot of different people. I know I picked a lot of people’s brains when I was in undergrad and grad school, finding out about what they did and the lessons they learned. Definitely take advantage of the connections you may have throughout this program because they can really help you out.”

Quincy: “I am currently getting my master’s in landscape architecture and that never would have happened if I hadn’t gone through the internship program! I found my professional goals through the internship, but it also helped me with my current work with the University of Cincinnati designing campus landscapes. I’ve been designing outdoor classrooms and community gardens, and I gained the foundational knowledge to be successful in this position from the Sustainability Internship Program…”

Thank you to UK SIP Alumni Sophie, Quincy, Cassie, and Feyi for participating in the Q&A and sharing advice for current and future SIP interns. If you are interested in becoming a part of the SIP cohort in 2023-2024, click here to apply. If you have any questions about the application process, reach out to Valerie Verty at vverty@uky.edu