David Malinowski has always loved Disney. When Malinowski had the chance to complete a five-month internship, he jumped at the opportunity.
“I can’t pin an exact moment I learned of the Disney College Program. I’ve always loved Disney and learned of the program early on in my life,” Malinowski said. “I wanted to participate in the Disney College Program because it offered me the opportunity to work in a Fortune 500 company and provided a great resume enhancer. Plus, it’s Disney World, of course, I wanted to see what it’s like.”
The Disney College Program is a national internship program that provides students with valuable, on-the-job experience working at Disney parks and resorts. Participants also participate in college coursework during their experience.
Malinowski was part of the custodial teams at Hollywood Studios and Epcot, based in Orlando, Florida. In this role, he was responsible for maintaining the pristine appearance of the parks. During his internship, he lived in an apartment complex provided by Disney with other program participants.
“My greatest takeaway from the program was both the friendships I gained and my newly appreciated love for small towns,” he said.
The experience made Malinowski appreciate the quieter lifestyle at Castleton.
“I was not a fan of living in such a busy area of the country, people always coming and going in a rush, no small-town amenities like in Castleton that I took for granted all my life,” Malinowski said.
Malinowski, who was a student in the Media & Communication program, completed his degree requirements at Castleton in December. During his time at Castleton, he was a member of the University’s choir, chamber choir, and the Castleton Content Lab, which pairs students with area businesses and nonprofits to tell their stories and reach larger audiences for their products and services.
“My success in the program would not have been possible without Castleton,” Malinowski said. “The Media and Communication department faculty were so supportive and helped me continue my Castleton journey while also embarking on this new one.”
Malinowski encourages other students to break away from their comfort zones while they’re at Castleton.
“Now is the time you get to explore something you’re interested in. Did the Disney College Program specifically relate to my degree? No, but it related to me,” he said. “And college is all about discovering and developing yourself. So go find an internship that you are genuinely interested in. There’s no possible way you can regret that.”