OHIO Lancaster student turns internship into permanent position

In celebration of Ohio University Lancaster’s 65th anniversary, we are highlighting several Ohio University Lancaster alumni and students for their outstanding achievements.

McKenzie Taylor turned an internship opportunity into a full-time job and is now working in a field she feels passionate about.

Taylor is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies at Ohio University Lancaster and is on track to graduate. She also serves as the vice president of service for Alpha Phi Omega, vice president for Lambda Pi Eta, and is a member of Allies for Human Rights and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. In addition, she is serving as an intern on the committee for Celebrate Women 2022, where she will assist with content and planning.

In addition to being involved in several student organizations, Taylor also earned experience while in college through an internship with Destination Downtown Lancaster (DDL). Destination Downtown Lancaster is a nonprofit with a mission to enhance the downtown business climate while promoting and preserving its historic identity as a center of cultural activity.

“She has been a true asset to Destination Downtown Lancaster, creating a social media calendar and tracking outcomes to help us operate more strategically and efficiently,” said Amanda Everitt, executive director of Destination Downtown Lancaster. “McKenzie has stepped up to assist in volunteer recruitment and coordination and rolls up her sleeves to help in all things DDL from events to communications.  Her passion, drive, and ability to juggle multiple projects at the same time have made her invaluable to our work.”

Everitt said Taylor plans and executes all communications across the nonprofit’s social media platforms. Taylor also develops and designs their weekly community newsletter, as well as their monthly business newsletter.

Taylor was so successful at her internship, in fact, that she now has been hired on full time as the digital marketing and outreach coordinator for Destination Downtown Lancaster.

We asked McKenzie a few questions to better understand her OHIO Lancaster experience and plans for the future.

What were key factors in deciding to attend Ohio University Lancaster?

A huge key factor for why I choose to attend Ohio University Lancaster is because of the low cost of tuition. On top of low-cost tuition, I can graduate with my bachelor’s degree at the Lancaster campus without having to travel to any other campus for courses. Being able to complete my full degree at Ohio University for less than $30,000 for all four years ultimately, has been the best decision. 
 
Why did you choose communication studies?

I chose communication studies because I wanted a major that would increase my knowledge on understanding relationships. I am passionate about building relationships with others and understanding the deeper value to communicating. I have a huge passion for working with a team and understanding the complexity of an organization. OHIO Lancaster offering organizational communication courses helped me choose communication studies as my major. I am passionate about event planning and OHIO Lancaster offers COMS 4050, Meeting and Conference Planning within their communication studies program. 
 
How do you think Ohio University Lancaster has prepared you for your future career?

Ohio University Lancaster has prepared me for my future career by giving me the experiences and resources to set me up for success. From amazing advisors such as Candice Thomas-Maddox for influencing me to become a COMS major to Brandy Bailey for helping with my career development through educational professional workshops. Student services has offered so many different resources to help me in my education and career. Ohio University Lancaster has also helped me prepare for my future by offering various organizations that I can be a part of such as, Alpha Phi Omega and Lambda Pi Eta. 

Can you share some of the major projects you’ve been involved with for Destination Downtown Lancaster?

Major projects that I have been involved with for Destination Downtown Lancaster are events such as 250 Plates, Fall Festival, and strategic planning for Small Business Celebration Week, WinterFest, and Glass Town Countdown. I have helped curate graphic designs for events and social media outlets. A major project for DDL that I have curated is a digital social media calendar for social media channels. This digital resource serves as a tool to strategically track metrics, content creation, and business focus. 

What advice would you give freshmen students entering college for the first time?

My advice for freshman students entering college for the first time is to get involved. The experiences you make now will set you up for success. Don’t be afraid to join student groups and attend events hosted on campus. These experiences will help you build connections that can last a lifetime. You don’t want to look back on this time at OHIO Lancaster and have regrets of not meeting people around you and building those connections.