Vignocchi excels as internship nears its end

Rebecca Gomolka
Correspondent

As summer is nearing its end, Katie Vignocchi is beginning to wrap up her internship with College Works Painting.

Although she'll be heading back to the University of Illinois in a few weeks, where she is double majoring in Urban and Regional Planning and Sociology, this is not the end of her work with College Works Painting.

Vignocchi, a 2009 alum of Coal City High School, began interning with College Works at the beginning of the summer after being recruited at college by past interns of the company. College Works recruited over 7,000 students, but only 200 of those individuals were chosen to work in the Great Lakes Division.

"My current boss interviewed over 500 students," Vignocchi said, "but he only chose 20 for his group." The number of interns is even smaller now, having only nine people under his supervision.

"Some students were fired for not being able to do the job that well, but the interns that I work with now are the most competitive group of people I've ever been around."

It took Vignocchi four different interviews to land the College Works internship, but the process certainly paid off. She is one of three girls in her division among hundreds of men. If that isn't impressive enough, she is one of the top girls for the house painting company. She now oversees interns and gives free estimates to potential customers.

"In the beginning of the summer, I was working 80 hours a week. It's calmed down since then because I now focus more on the production and completion of the houses, getting more into the sales side of the business," she said

Thus far Vignocchi's team has painted the exteriors of 19 different houses, and although she's heading back to the University of Illinois in a matter of weeks, she hopes to bump that number up to 25.

The internship has been an incredible learning experience for Vignocchi. Her communication and time management skills have improved immensely, but Vignocchi finds the most important lesson to be priorities.

"I realized having this job and putting it first was so important. I'm doing what I need to do now to get to where I want to be later in life."

Her hard work with the company has already gotten her a spot with College Works for 2012. "I am going to try and expand the work for the rest of the summer, hoping to have even a few jobs in Champaign," Vignocchi said. "But most of the work is in the summer. I've been asked to remain with the company and move forward."

Vignocchi believes this to be the most life changing experience she has ever had. "I've grown so much as a person. This internship showed me my true potential."

Vignocchi adds that a College Works Painting internship is a great one to be a part of because it "gives students the opportunity to put themselves above the curve. It's hands-on experience rather than just an academic resume builder."

Because of the great work Vignocchi has done, she now has multiple reference letters to help her in her future endeavors. "I will be able to transfer the skills I've learned with College Works for any job I may have in the future."

Vignocchi's ultimate goal is to be in ownership of a large scale company within the next five to 10 years. Whatever career path she chooses, this bright, young girl will excel because of this life-changing summer with College Works Painting.