COD Students Find Success, Inspiration and Magic at Disney

College of DuPage students are gaining crucial real-world experience and inspiration through prestigious internships at Walt Disney World.

"The Disney College Program provides an incredible opportunity for students, particularly for individuals who aren't sure of what path they want to follow," said COD Assistant Manager of Career Services Sara Kirby. "For many students, this is their first time away from home on their own. They not only learn critical transferrable skills such as customer service, effective communication, problem solving and teamwork, they also learn how to manage their time and themselves. Our students come back having had a great experience and feeling more confident and competent."

Each year, 30 to 40 COD students take part in the Disney College Program. Available to students who have completed at least 12 credits, are in good academic standing at the College and maintain a GPA of at least 2.0, the program offers both non-credit internships and four-credit internships to eligible students in specific positions.

From August 2014 to January 2015, COD student Julianne Wiggins spent 38 to 42 hours each week at Disney World in Florida playing popular Disney roles, including one of the entertainment giant's most iconic characters: Tinkerbell. Selected from twelve final candidates out of 200 auditionees, the Downers Grove resident said the role involved participating in meet and greets, signing autographs and telling storylines.

"The Disney internship was great," Wiggins said. "It was a wonderful challenge, but not a struggle. I met new people from a variety of backgrounds and participated in an experience you can't get anywhere else."

Wiggins said she learned a lot during her time at Disney, including a newfound talent and perhaps a future that involves working with children.

"Many other character performers had backgrounds in theater," Wiggins said. "I've performed as a competitive cheerleader, but I've never done anything like this. I was surprised to find that I was really good at it. What's more, I learned that I really want to work with children."

Wiggins, who is currently pursuing an associate degree in general studies at COD, said the internship increased her independence and helped her develop time management skills.

The training provided by Disney centers around the organization's Four Keys to a Great Guest Experience: Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency, an approach Wiggins said "teaches you how to make the magic yourself." Since returning from Disney, Wiggins said she is much more confident about communicating with others and that she has been spreading the word about her experiences.

"I would highly recommend this internship to nearly every student," she said. "It's a great experience no matter what role you fill. Everyone there learns from everyone else, not only from the professionals and training staff, but also from the other interns, each of whom have unique perspectives, skills and experiences."

Wiggins also noted that the support she received as a COD student helped her make a smooth transition from high school to college.

"COD is a great school," she said. "It's affordable but provides undergraduate education that's as good as or better than anywhere else. There are a lot of resources available and a staff and faculty that are always willing to help."

COD student Paolo Mazza also participated in the Disney College Program at Disney World, serving as an attractions attendant in Disney's Animal Kingdom from January to August 2013. He said he was thrilled with his experience.

"I know it sounds clichéd, but my experience at Disney really was magical," Mazza said. "It was great to be independent and to meet so many people from across the U.S. and throughout the world."

Mazza, a West Chicago resident, said living in Florida during the internship was his first time away from home and the experience helped him develop key skills, including communication, conflict resolution, crisis management, leadership, time management and teamwork. It also inspired his educational focus and career path.

"Before this internship, I didn't know what I wanted to do," he said. "Since working at Disney, I now know that I want to study some form of business or marketing."

At COD, Mazza earned his A.S. in general studies and plans to attend DePaul in September 2015 where he will pursue a bachelor's degree in organizational communications with a minor in business or marketing. He said he hopes to participate in the Disney Professional Internship, a targeted internship through which students directly apply the skills needed for their major, and eventually work as a recruiting manager for the program. His ultimate long-term goal is to work for Walt Disney as an Ambassador to the Walt Disney World Park, serving as media representative, official host and spokesman of the resort.

Mazza said that before participating in the Disney program, he wasn't very involved on COD's campus; he simply attended classes at COD, did homework in the Library and went home. Since returning from Disney, he has become much more involved, participating in a variety of activities, including involvement in the Casa de Amigos and Pride Alliance clubs and working with the College's Student Life office. He was also accepted into the College's international honor society Phi Theta Kappa chapter, subsequently elected President and recently nominated to the 2015 All-USA Community College Academic Team, a national program that recognizes high achieving two-year college students who demonstrate academic excellence and rigor, as well as leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.

"I found an amazing sense of community at Disney," he said. "Through my work with the Student Life office and my involvement in various clubs at COD, I've found that the College also provides a great community as well, comparable to that at Disney. I'm just trying to share some of the magic I experienced at Disney with COD."

Open to currently enrolled college students who have completed at least one semester of studies, the Disney College Program provides credit and non-credit paid internships to students across the world. Interns can work in more than 20 different positions in the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts in Florida and California. Housed communally in fully furnished apartments near the resorts, participants fill a broad range of roles in a variety of areas including entertainment, food and beverage, lodging, operations, recreation and retail/sales.

In addition, participants can enhance their experiences through several types of educational courses as they serve their internships. Categorized by collegiate courses, professional studies and seminars, many of the courses are recommended for accreditation by the American Council on Education and include offerings such as corporate communications, engineering, human resource management, marketing and organizational leadership.

Click here to view photos of Wiggins and Mazza during their internships.

Click here for more information on the Disney College Program.