College students seeking internships still have opportunities despite the recent economic downturn.

Texas Woman’s University student Jennifer Livings said she’s constantly seeing the benefits she secured at the Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home.

“I’ve been able to see the foundations of what it’s like to be in a great work environment and to be supported by your colleagues. It also allows me to find myself and really get that experience,” Livings said.

Amy Watson, supervisor of the clinical intern program at Cumberland, said that although the internship positions are non-paid, the program is never short of applicants.

Photos by Gary Payne/Denton Record-Chronicle

Texas Woman’s University student Jennifer Livings, left, talks with Amy Watson, director of clinical services at Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, on Friday in Denton.

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Leah Jordan, community impact director for the United Way of Denton County, said her organization also attracts interns that are hungry for experience despite the lack of pay.

“It lets them network and offers a lot of non-monetary benefits that students still recognize as important,” Jordan said.

Kurt Krause, an internship coordinator at the University of North Texas, said internships have been affected by the economic slowdown.

“For 2007, internships at UNT rose from approximately 1,200 to over 1,500 — an increase of 28 percent. For 2008, however, we saw virtually no increase. Even though the numbers have been flat, we hear from the employers that this is one of the ways they are able to maintain productivity,” Krause said.

Companies that offer internships still reflect a wide selection, according to UNT’s internship Web site.

“Without a doubt, students need to keep applying for positions, and although it may be more competitive, jobs are still there. And the experience is still very necessary,” Krause said.

Trace Life Sciences, a radiochemistry company based in Denton, created a paid internship program last month.

Brenda Broome, a human resources assistant for the company, said that when new management took office in October, they were eager to invest in molding students who could potentially become full-time employees.

“Our hope is that we can bring new techniques and they will bring new lifeblood into the people who are already here. It’s also an economical thing, too, because we can spread the workload over more people,” Broome said.

Interns working for Trace Life Sciences work 20 to 24 hours a week and are usually chemistry majors, Broome said.

“They work right alongside of those who have been here awhile, and they’re enthusiastic and eager to see what they’re learning in school applied in the workplace,” Broome said.

ARLINDA ARRIAGA can be reached at 940-566-6897. Her e-mail address is

aarriaga@dentonrc.com.

Photos by Gary Payne/Denton Record-Chronicle

Texas Woman’s University student Jennifer Livings, left, talks with Amy Watson, director of clinical services at Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home, on Friday in Denton. Livings, also shown below, has been an intern at Cumberland for more than a year and recently became a part-time employee there.