Sorrell students search for internship opportunities during Internship Expo

Troy University’s Sorrell 360 Center held their annual Internship Expo for students actively searching for an internship in 2026. Students met in the John Robert Lewis Atrium to learn about internship opportunities and network with the 11 total companies who were present at the expo.  

Some of the companies included Aflac, Enterprise Mobility, Southwestern Advantage and Troy Bank & Trust.  

Preston Pritchett, director of the Sorrell 360 Center for Professional Life, emphasized how events such as this help students develop the necessary skills they need in order to be successful in their career field.  

“Most people do not enjoy the process of networking or interacting with people they haven't met before,” Pritchett said. “It’s not an inherent trait. It’s something you have to practice and get better at.  

“When we provide opportunities for students to practice those skills, it helps them develop the necessary abilities they need in order to do this in the workforce. We continue to try to put our students in opportunities to be face-to-face with our employers.”  

Pritchett emphasized what he hoped the Sorrell College of Business would help students to accomplish.  

“The goal for us here in the College of Business is to see our students gain knowledge and information while they're here, but to go out and put that into a great career once they graduate,” Pritchett said.  

Along with the 11 employers present at the expo, students were also greeted with hors d'oeuvres and classical music.  

“Career fairs are amazing, but sometimes they can be a little bit overwhelming,” Pritchett said. “They can be almost even stuffy or stoic, so it's still professional, but it's a little bit more laid back.”  

Students who attended the expo also had the chance to win a Sorrell 360 door prize. The prize consisted of a smart TV, a soft backpack cooler and a gift basket with Troy and Sorrell College of Business merchandise. 

Olivia Jones, a junior human resources major from Birmingham, Alabama, described the event as laid-back, which is exactly what Pritchett hoped students felt.  

“I think it’s a very welcoming and convivial air,” Jones said. “It's an inviting space, especially with the hors d'oeuvres that they have. 

“It’s obviously professional, but it makes you feel like you want to get out there and meet people.”  

Jones, who described herself as reserved, expressed how important it is for her to step outside of her comfort zone for career events such as these.  

“I'm pretty shy, especially when it comes to doing professional things like that because you have to make sure you say the right things and have all the elements of professionalism,” Jones said.  

Jones offered students who may be shy like her a piece of advice she found helpful.  

“Just throw yourself into it and give yourself a mental push,” Jones said. “If it fails or it's a little bit embarrassing, what I do is text my friends about it, and we just laugh, so it makes it feel a little bit better.”  

Jones said this expo can provide students with amazing opportunities to excel in their career fields.  

“They show you that there are a lot of options out there for careers,” Jones said. “They give you a sense of security in knowing that you have a lot of different things to choose from rather than just feeling like you're stuck and you can't do anything about what your future is.” 

Rosemary Chesney, who works with Southwest Advantage, an employer at the internship expo, said these types of career fairs help students stand out to employers.  

“Your network is like your net worth,” Chesney said. “A lot of times it’s about who you know, not what you know, so the bigger network you have, the more doors that are opened for you.”  

Chesney, who graduated in May of this year, shared one piece of advice she wants students to remember.  

“Time in college is short,” Chesney said. “It goes by really fast, as someone who graduated like four months ago.  

“The earlier you set yourself apart, the better for when it comes to your attract-ability for jobs. Everyone's looking for an internship, so it can be kind of competitive.”  

Chesney appreciated how the setup of the expo helped ease the nerves of students originally coming into it.   

“It definitely does ease it,” Chesney said. “As far as the atmosphere goes, it’s a bit more relaxed with having the snacks and the music.”  

Chesney hoped students walked away feeling a little bit of relief when it comes to their futures.  

“Even if you don’t end up pursuing any of the opportunities, it’s great to find connections,” Chesney said. “It's a great chance to practice your skills in communication and learning to be in a professional environment.  

“It helps you gain confidence and overcome a little bit of a fear of talking to strangers.”