UW-Madison student wins Google scholarship

University of Wisconsin–Madison junior Caitlin Krois has been selected from a pool of marketing, business and journalism students as winner of a coveted paid summer internship with Google, Inc.

Krois, originally from South Orange, N.J., will spend eight weeks interning at the company’s New York City offices this summer, learning skills for a future career in public relations or advertising.

The internship at Google, in addition to being invaluable for her future career, will be a life-changing experience, she says.

"For me, this is a dream come true," says Krois, currently studying abroad in New South Wales, Australia. "Google is a tool millions of people use daily across the entire world and I’m excited to be a part of that."

The Google internship was a part of the Big Badger Auction, an online event sponsored by the Wisconsin Alumni Association. The internship was made possible through a partnership with Google, Gilda’s Club Madison, WAA and UW–Madison. The Big Badger Auction grossed over $100,000.

With a bid of $8,500, an anonymous donor won an online auction and the right to underwrite the internship, asking that it be named after retired School of Business professor Robert Pricer. All proceeds will benefit Gilda’s Club Madison, a local affiliate of the national cancer support network.

"This has been a great partnership: Google gave a paid summer intership, the University of Wisconsin Alumni auction awarded the winning bid and Gilda’s Club Madison received the donation," says Cindy Alvarez, Gilda’s Club campaign co-chair.

A faculty and staff selection committee picked Krois from among dozens of talented applicants.

"Caitlin is the perfect blend for an innovative company like Google," says School of Journalism faculty associate Katy Culver, a member of the search committee. "Beyond her skills and experience, she truly understands communication across multiple platforms, making her an ideal choice in our changing media landscape. Google needed a student who looks toward the future with appreciation and anticipation, not trepidation. Caitlin is exactly that person. We’re delighted for her."

In addition to working in the advertising department of UW–Madison’s student newspaper, the Daily Cardinal, Krois has also participated in Polar Plunge and Relay for Life. She is majoring in strategic communications.