Students gathered yesterday in the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union in order to receive information on the Disney College Program.

Disney recruiter John Stephenson presented information to students in regards to joining the program.

This was the time where students could choose to spend a semester working while being educated at either Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

Stephenson stressed aspects that made the program different than others.

“Where else can you go to work early, ride a rollercoaster, and then start your shift,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson discussed the three key elements associated with the internship.

The three mentioned elements were: living, learning, and earning.

“I think the most important part of the program was learning about the living conditions,” said Chelsie Gast, a sophomore accounting major.

Participants in the program would live in either Disney World or Disneyland at a Wellness Apartment.

An intern can have from one to seven roommates in a one to four bedroom apartment. The cost of the apartment would be taken out of the participant’s check each week.

The learning opportunities available through the internship were also discussed.

“I came today because it seemed like there would be a lot of communications opportunities involved like speaking and interacting with different people,” Allinston Saulsberry, a freshman communications major, said.

Kristin Carlson, a pre-med graduate student and program representative, felt the Disney College Program would be in students’ best interest to participate in.

“Students are benefited because you can apply what you learn to basically any major,” Carlson said.

Many different learning categories were mentioned such as: professional development study, leadership speaker series and organizational leadership.

There were different learning aspects that were reinforced.

“Networking and taking advantage of different opportunities are key,” Carlson said.

Stephenson also presented information on the earning aspect of the program.

“You don’t apply for a job; you audition for a role,” Stephenson said.

An intern would be guaranteed thirty hours of work a week ranging from different roles in the Disney conglomeration.

The five most popular roles included: lifeguard, Quick Service Food and Beverage, attractions, custodial and merchandise.

Both Carlson and Tara Nale, a junior hospitality management major and Disney College Program representative, agreed that the feature they enjoyed most was meeting people from all over the world and making friends.

There were also other aspects that the program representatives expanded on.

“I learned a lot about myself and learned more about professionalism,” Nale said.

Jordan Cox, a senior public relations major and program representative, gave advice to students interested in the program.

“Just make sure you take advantage of every opportunity because it goes by so fast,” Cox said.

The Walt Disney College Program accepts around 7,000 students from around the world and the program has been running since 1981.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-7943 or rjrodgers@eiu.edu.