Volunteer Tax Preparers Needed

APPLY ON-LINE FOR THE VITA INTERNSHIP HERE

Position Description: Tax preparers with UMBC VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) will complete personal income tax returns for low income individuals and families from the greater Baltimore area on UMBC’s campus. They will also advise clients on avoiding unnecessary fees and leveraging refunds over time through bonds and savings accounts. Tax season is between mid-February and early April and appointments will be on designated Saturdays during the season. Volunteers will be working as a part of the Baltimore CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Campaign which partners with VITA to provide tax preparation services to lowincome families throughout the greater Baltimore area.

Qualifications: This opportunity only requires IRS tax preparer certification. Certification is earned by attending three training sessions, one online and two in a classroom setting during the month of January, as well as passing a certification exam at the end.  Training is provided by Baltimore Cash Campaign and the IRS.  Completing the training and passing the exam will officially give you IRS certification and authorize you to complete tax returns during the spring semester. These training sessions will amount to about 15 hours total, however you may need to spend additional time preparing for the exam.  While this opportunity is certainly a helpful supplement to those pursuing financially related majors it is in no way needed.  Knowledge of tax preparation and tax law is helpful to almost any field of study.

Responsibilities: Completing the free training sessions in January. Interviewing clients and preparing and reviewing documentation needed to accurately complete tax returns. Administrative tasks at the VITA site. Reviewing completed tax returns. Doing follow-up interviews with clients and completing quality reviews. Perks: This is an excellent opportunity to gain both work experience related to the field of financial economics and IRS certification for resume building. You will also be actively engaging with and providing aid to those in need of help in your broader community. Finally, internship credit through the economics department and Career Center is also being offered on an individual basis.  Schedule:

Tax Preparation Sessions will be on the following Saturdays, 9am-2pm:  February 27, March 5, March 19, March 26, and April 9, 2016.  Attendance at all of these sessions is strongly encouraged.  

Questions?  Contact Trisha Wells at twells@umbc.edu or 410-455-2393.

Name: Shannon Donelan 

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: GE Aviation

Position Title: Engineering Design Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Mechanical Engineering

Expected Graduation Year: May 2016

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

This summer, I worked as an intern at the GE Aviation headquarters in Cincinnati, OH. I worked in the Advanced Composites department, specifically Polymer Matrix Composites (PMC) Design. PMC Design is the department responsible for designing the fan blades on the front of jet engines. We worked on fan blades for the GE9x engine, which will be used to power the new Boeing 777x jet airliner. In my role as a design intern,I had a lot of projects. My main project was to design a new system for testing the metal leading edges of the GE9x product blade (the silver parts of fan blades) to ensure that they meet design intent. This required me to lead a team in multiple geographical locations and involved extensive work in the CAD program Unigraphics NX. I also coordinated efforts to prepare for the Fan Blade Out (FBO) test which will be completed in England using fan blades made in the US. An FBO test is when an explosive charge is detonated inside a fan blade in order to detach the blade while the engine is running. Other projects I worked on included compiling and graphing blade machining data, completing an ice mass sensor analysis, designing a stand to hold the fan blades upright, and writing design reviews. At this stage in the GE9x design process, the fan blade parts were undergoing extensive testing and I was able to participate in a lot of the tests. 

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

This is my second co-op rotation with GE Aviation. Last summer, I worked on the design team at their plant in Norwich, NY. I applied for this position my sophomore year when GE Aviation came to UMBC to do on-campus interviews through the Shriver Center. I submitted my resume for consideration through UMBCworks.The interview went well and I was offered a job. After last summer, GE sent out return offers and I really enjoyed my first rotation so I decided to return for this summer. When I applied, I wasn't sure where I would be working. I later found out I would be working at the Aviation headquarters in Cincinnati, OH. I was a bit nervous about moving to Cincinnati for the summer but it turned out to be a wonderful experience! I would recommend an out-of-state internship to anyone who likes trying new things and going out of their comfort zone.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

Working at GE for the past two summers has been phenomenal! My managers have always been extremely knowledgable, approachable, and willing to help me learn. I've had the chance to meet so many different people from all over the world because GE is a global business. I've worked with people everywhere from Mexico to France and I've become close friends with interns from all over the country. Also, GE encourages its employees to participate in trips, picnics, and other fun activities, even during work hours! The higher-level executives are friendly and listen to their employees by hosting lunches and round table discussions. I've gotten to meet multiple vice presidents of GE, including the Vice President of the Engineering division. One of my favorite parts of this summer was visiting Peebles Test Facility. Peebles is where production engines are given certification tests. It's an incredible feeling to see the fully completed engines being subjected to real-life operation conditions.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

GE was the first company to successfully use polymeric matrix composites (PMCs) on their engine's front fan blades. Composite blades are more lightweight and durable than metal blades and their use has become a trademark of GE Aviation. I was honored to work on the new GE9x engine PMC fan blades. I think the best part about working on fan blades was that it's one of the few components of the engine that I can point to and you can actually see. I like knowing that the blades I'm helping to design will one day be on commercial planes everywhere, helping people travel the world. 

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

I would suggest applying to different places to find what type of engineering you like and what type of roles appeal to you. Working at GE and learning about the design process has shown me which part of that process I want to specialize in. From design to manufacturing, there is a place for everyone, whether you like to be at a computer all day or running around on your feet. Internships can also help you figure out where you'd like to live and work in the future. They can also lead to a job. I have accepted an offer to work at GE Aviation after graduation as a design engineer in the Edison Engineering Development Program (EEDP) thanks to my past internships at GE. I would suggest seeking an internship away from home and moving someplace new. It's only for a summer and you never know what type of great experiences you'll have!

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!

Did you hear? Google is coming to campus on October 29 and October 30?

Below are featured events and internship/employment opportunities that have recently been posted or have application deadline dates that are quickly approaching!  To see all that the UMBC Career Center has to offer YOU, please visit our myUMBC group page or log into your UMBCworks account!

FEATURED EVENTS…

NEW! On the Road: Kennedy Krieger Institute Friday, October 30, 2015, 9 am–1 pm

NEW! UMBC Connects: National Security Agency (NSA) Wednesday, October, 28, 2015, 11 am–2 pm

Grad School 101 Conference Wednesday, October, 21, 2015, 4:30 pm–8 pm

UMBC Connects: Next Century Corporation Wednesday, October, 21, 2015, 11 am–2 pm STOP IN WHEN YOU ARE ABLE!

INFORMATION SESSIONS…

Information Session: Morgan Stanley Tuesday, October, 20, 2015, 5 pm–7 pm

Information Session: United States General Services Administration Wednesday, October, 21, 5:30 pm–7:30 pm 

Information Session: Defense Security Service Thursday, October, 22, 2015, 5 pm–6 pm

 NEW! Information Session: srcLogic Tuesday, October, 27, 2015, 5:30 pm–6:30 pm

NEW! Information Session Google (Undergrad & Grad) Thursday, October, 29, 2015, 4 pm–8 pm

NEW! Information Session: Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Thursday, October, 29, 2015, 5 pm–6:30 pm

NEW! Information Session Google - Grad & Upper Level Under Grad Friday, October 30, 2015, Noon–3 pm

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NEW!  On-Campus Interview Deadlines

Kohl’s Department Stores
Deadline to Apply:  October 20
Interview Date:  October 28

Morgan Stanley
Deadline to Apply:  October 20
Interview Date:  November 3

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Deadline to Apply:  October 21
Interview Date:  November 4

Basy’s Inc.
Deadline to Apply:  October 22
Interview Date:  November 5

srcLogic
Deadline to Apply:  October 29
Interview Date:  November 12

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FEATURED FULL-TIME & PART-TIME JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, AND RESEARCH POSITIONS

University of Chicago Booth School of Business Summer Research

US Dept of State Summer Intern Program Deadline Extended

Entry Level Opportunities w/ Actuarial Research Corporation

Keep an eye on the Career Center website (http://careers.umbc.edu/) for all upcoming events and programs!  Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors….this is an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about career paths…whether you are exploring possibilities or searching for an internship or full-time opportunity!

University of Chicago Summer Research Experience 

Sponsored by the Becker Friedman Institute and the Booth School of Business

The University of Chicago is offering FOUR current UMBC undergraduates an opportunity to apply for a deep immersive experience in research activities in economics.  The program is designed for undergraduate students with strong quantitative and analytical backgrounds of all majors. Substantial coursework in not required.

Program Elements include:

• Students will attend workshops given by Booth faculty as part of the "Economics Undergraduate Research Experience" beginning the end of June of 2016 and extending into July of 2016.  Information about this program can be found below: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/feature-story/research-for-undergraduates
• Depending on interest and background students will be matched with research professionals, graduate students or professors to work on a specific research project in economics.  This activity will start in June of 2016 and extend until the end of August 2016.  Last year’s research activities included work in Microeconomic Theory, Operations Research, Decision-Making Under Uncertainty, International Trade and Finance and Labor Economics.
• Additional classroom instruction will be provided for those students without substantial formal exposure to economics.

Support:

• All living expenses will be covered by the Booth School and the Becker Friedman Institute
• Housing will be provided in undergraduate dormitories at the University of Chicago.
• Travel expenses will also be covered.
• Successful applicants will be offered a stipend of $10,000.

Qualifications to Apply:

• We seek applicants with an interest in research and willing to work hard for the summer in a stimulating environment!

• 3.2 cumulative GPA or above.

• Open to all analytical backgrounds including economic, finance, engineering, mathematics, physics, etc.

• A strong quantitative background is a plus but is not required.

Application process:

• Required materials:  
• Current Resume or Curriculum vitae
• Personal Statement: Two page discussion of the candidate's objective for the summer and future research goals.  Include why you are interested in the program.
• Two letters of recommendation.
• Unofficial Transcript
• Please send these materials via e-mail to:      

Christine Routzahn, Director

UMBC Career Center

routzahn@umbc.edu, 410-455-3671

• Deadline to Apply:  Rolling Admission, Absolute deadline to apply is Tuesday, December 15, 2015
• For additional details, contact Christine Routzahn at 410-455-3671 or routzahn@umbc.edu