Franco Rivas Completes Spring Internship at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C.

2015 Jun 17

Franco Rivas , a senior Business Management major and KWU men's soccer player from La Calera, Cordoba , Argentina, recently completed a spring semester internship with The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop marketable skills, build professional confidence, and connect with people and organizations to help them get started on a meaningful career.

Rivas was selected to be an intern for Signature Properties, which has apartments in 70 locations in the D.C. area. Rivas was in charge of the company's social media marketing, controlling and posting online content. Utilizing Facebook Ads, he built up the company's fan-base on Facebook from 200 "Likes" to 760 in his first few months. He developed new content and imaging for their brand using Photoshop and Illustrator, designing brochures and making improvements to the website.

In addition, Rivas was involved in the rental process from reviewing applications to furnishing the apartments. Signature Properties was so impressed with Rivas that it offered him a full-time job, something it has never done with an intern.

Rivas also found time to volunteer, teaching and coaching soccer for an elementary school. Later in the fall, he helped some shelters to get clothing and food for homeless people.

Following his semester in D.C., Rivas headed back to Argentina for the summer and will return to Kansas Wesleyan to finish his bachelor's degree this fall.

The Washington Center's location in Washington, D.C., offers students opportunities to explore the nation's capital. The Center's academic seminars focus on such topics as national security, the Presidency and the Middle East peace process, featuring such respected speakers as Ted Koppel, Andrea Mitchell and Howard Dean. Seminars have included an insider's access to embassies, Capitol Hill, CNN, the Newseum, and media or nongovernmental organizations.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing carefully chosen students with challenging opportunities to work and learn for academic credit. Rivas is the fourth student from Kansas Wesleyan University to be accepted to The Washington Center's semester-long program.