Food science students get taste of big leagues with Miller Park internship

It's a Milwaukee Brewers fan's dream: Spend the summer at Miller Park, get paid to do it, and get some resume-building professional experience to boot.

For University of Wisconsin–Madison seniors Maureen Riley and Hannah Buchen, it's more than a dream. This month, the students begin summer internships with Milwaukee Sportservice, the company that provides food, beverage and retail services to Milwaukee's Miller Park. When the Brewers take the field, they'll be working behind the scenes, gaining valuable experience with every aspect of the park's extensive food-services operation, from planning private parties to slinging burgers in the concession stands.

The internship program, now in its second year, is organized by Miller Park catering manager and UW–Madison alumna Heather Furger. "Previous catering managers had generally hired one intern to work under them, and I wanted to develop this further," Furger explains. "Students interested in food service will get experience working for a large-volume food service facility. And [having several interns is] of great assistance, especially helping with day-to-day responsibilities during busy times."

Riley, a nutritional sciences and dietetics major, says the opportunity to apply her knowledge of nutrition in a unique work environment drew her to the program.

"I was looking for new experiences that related to my major," she says. "I really wanted a new experience with work setting and responsibilities."

Buchen, who is majoring in dietetics, interned with the program last summer and will supervise other interns this year. "I had a really great time last summer," she says. "I loved Milwaukee, and it didn't really feel like work when I was working."

Both students worked opening day and weekend games in April. They will start full-time after classes finish next week.