The Varsity Internship Program - Letters from Alumni

Letters from Alumni [ Letters from Parents ]
(click names for full text)

Amy Chenoweth  ·  Stratford, CT  ·  Psychology  ·  CURVES Franchise Manager

I have to say I use so much of what I learned on the bookfield, recruiting and hiring new employees, training and motivating current ones.

Craig Featherstone  ·  Atlanta, GA  ·  VP Sales

I spent four years in college and learned more in three summers on the book field than I ever could have learned in college.

Chas Weems  ·  Trenton, TN  ·  Business  ·  FedEx Mgr of Sales Education

While there are many great companies in the world today that provide sales training, the fundamental skills that I received in Varsity’s sales school were among the best.

Dave Ramsey  ·  Brentwood, TN  ·  Author/Radio Talk Show [Second Letter]

The Total Money Makeover: Take a high-rejection, high-paying summer sales job.

The Varsity Internship Program is the best summer job opportunity available for college students today!

Jason Fuller  ·  Greenville, SC  ·  Physics/Engineering  ·  GE – Systems Leader [Second Letter]

Since I was in a technical field, many of my friends and even family thought that I had made the wrong decision in pursuing Varsity, but the skills and personal growth I developed would later prove them wrong.

In my current position as a systems leader of a development program that crosses five major businesses and three countries, there is not a day that goes by that I do use those skills learned on the book field.

Email: People who know how, work for people who know why.

Eric Viets  ·  Santa Rosa, CA  ·  Psychology  ·  LU – Admin Info Management

To this day, I strongly recommend that college students go through the program.

Sarah Scott  ·  Bradenton, FL  ·  Elementary Ed  ·  Teacher

I guess I would tell you to expect to be challenged, stretched, to learn, to grow, to work hard and play hard, and have fun doing both.

Hunter Murray  ·  Collierville, TN  ·  Transportation/Logistics  ·  Executive Search Firm [Second Letter]

As a team we faced the highest highs and lowest lows and we were there for each other.

Email: Thanks for putting up with an arrogant, strong-willed college kid while he was being transformed into a bookman.

Jacob Adamo  ·  Wheatland, WY  ·  Government  ·  Showroom Mgr

You may say that you’re just not the “salesman” type, but the truth is… you already are a salesman, whether you want to be or not.

Joe A. Martin Jr.  ·  Brentwood, TN  ·  International Business  ·  USMC

The experience on the book field has influenced my Marine Corps career more than I ever realized until you asked me about this.

Kathleen Myrick  ·  Jacksonville, FL  ·  PhD Opera  ·  Mezzo-Soprano/Realtor

As most people understand-an artist must have 2 skills:  ·  singing well and a “day job”.

Laure Hoffman  ·  Greensboro, NC  ·  Business Management  ·  Sales Rep/Consultant

I also learned to persevere under all kinds of circumstances, to never give up, lose hope or quit when things get tough.

Chris McIntire  ·  Oklahoma, OK  ·  Psychology  ·  President – AmeriBanc National

I tracked you down after that and we sat down for one of the longest and most thorough job interviews I have ever heard of much less participated in.

Outside of my family, you have made the largest positive impact on my professional life of anyone else I have met and worked with.

Nick Thornton  ·  Brownsville, TN  ·  Bio-Medical Engineering  ·  Medical Doctor

With all the medical training and knowledge that I have gained, it is useless if the patient doesn’t get it”.

Ben Bacheller  ·  Brazil  ·  Biology/Environmental Eng  ·  Missions

There is no question that spending time in the book business has put me a step ahead of my fellow classmates emotionally, mentally, and professionally.

Bill Marseilles  ·  San Francisco, CA  ·  NCR – Account Manager

I have found that the competition is very tough when you get out of school, and anything that you can do to get ahead or set yourself apart from everyone else is a tremendous help.

David Williams  ·  Greenville, SC  ·  BJU Career Development & Placement - Director

Skills learned include dependability, persistence, responsibility, initiative, and good organizational skills.

Brad Scott  ·  Clemson, SC  ·  CU – Assistant Head Football Coach

I have realized that in life, the toughest things are the best.  ·  Nothing good ever comes easy.

Brent Dearing  ·  Clayton, MO  ·  Financial Advisor

The first summer you and the other managers believed in me like no one else had before.

Brett Pons  ·  Chapel Hill, NC  ·  Sales

You have to communicate well with other people and there is not a profession in the world where this is not a necessity.

Bubba Young  ·  Nashville, TN  ·  Northwestern Mutual Life - Special Agent

I can say, without hesitation, that to this day, my involvement with the Varsity Company remains the single most gratifying and rewarding experience I’ve ever had.

Chris Johnson  ·  Lynchburg, VA  ·  Business  ·  LU – Executive Director of Recruiting

If you want the ride of your life, the best practical experience in business and communication skills, and a way to build your resume while in college, then the Varsity Internship Program is for you!

Connie Hankins  ·  Houston, TX  ·  Broadcasting  ·  Lawyer

My simple testimony to the value of the job is that I returned for four more summers, recruited friends, fellow students, and my sister to join me, and still appreciate bookfield lessons in my daily life.

Corey Cleek  ·  San Jose, CA  ·  Accounting  ·  eBay – Market Development

eBay’s hiring manager’s response was, “I know that it should be because you have an MBA from Duke or because you have Internet-related work experience at Amazon and CitySearch, but in reality, the reason I was excited about talking to you was because of your door-to-door sales experience.”

Darrell Yoder  ·  Topeka, IN  ·  Religion  ·  Ministry

I know very confidently that if I had not sold books and recruited, I would not have gotten the job.

David Johnson  ·  Gray, TN  ·  Lawyer  ·  State Farm Insurance Claims

These skills helped me make it through law school and have been invaluable to me in my   ·  present position at State Farm where I negotiate daily with attorneys and other clients.

Dr. Bruce K. Bell  ·  Lynchburg, VA  ·  LU – Dean, School of Business and Government

I support the Varsity Internship Program for students who are self-motivated, self-confident, and enthusiastic.

Dr. Cecil V. Kramer, Jr.  ·  Lynchburg, VA  ·  LU – Chairman, Dept of Communication Studies

I wholehearted endorse the Varsity Internship Program and recommend it to students in Speech Communication and Advertising/Public Relations as a valuable internship experience that will meet their requirement as Communications Studies major.

Dr. Suresh Gopalan  ·  Canyon, TX  ·  West TX State University – Professor of Management

The three summers that I spent with Varsity gave me the experience, wisdom, and maturity in finishing the doctoral program and getting the job that I have now.

Eric Davidson Charleston, SC  ·  Law  ·  Attorney

I know without a doubt Varsity had a far more important impact on my life than both college and law school.

Jack Branch  ·  Metairie, LA  ·  Financial Advisor

If you are looking for something to make you stand out in a crowded field of applicants then Varsity is worth exploring.

Jeff Bailey  ·  Okeechobee, FL  ·  Business/Politics

In both my private business and my political career, the opportunity that I had to work for the Varsity Company has taught me the necessary tools to be successful.

Jonathan Coddington Auburn, AL  ·  Business/Economics  ·  Insurance Agent

In the interviews I knew the type of questions they would ask because a couple of months before I had been screening kids to join VIP.

Julio Beaton  ·  Miami, FL  ·  Investment Broker

What I am saying is that a student that puts in a summer or summers with Varsity has increased their chances ten-fold to not only get a job, but a lucrative one.

Karen Hornsby  ·  Murfreesboro, TN  ·  Law  ·  Public Defender

When you think about it, life is full of opportunities to “close the sale” – from selling myself to a prospective employer, to negotiating a case on my client’s behalf or arguing a case before a trial jury – I use the skills I acquired working for Varsity on a daily basis.

Kevin Snow  ·  Jackson, MS  ·  Physical Education  ·  Financial Advisor

Your success will depend on your willingness to be teachable and follow the instructions given to you by the person who has invested in you.

Mark Groff  ·  Gallatin, TN  ·  Chiropractic  ·  Chiropractor

When you graduate from college and you are sitting in that interview pursuing that job along with a few hundred other applicants, why are they going to pick you?

Michelle Matthews  ·  Lynchburg, VA  ·  Art Education  ·  LU – Dean of Women

In addition, the program helped me to become a more confident person.

Miguel Rivas  ·  Charlotte, NC Computer Engineering  ·  IBM - Programmer

I gained a lot of self-confidence, which has ever since helped me in job interviews, at work, and even in relationships.

Owen McCullough  ·  Mitchell, SD  ·  Finance  ·  Pharmaceutical Sales

The experience I gained during my five summers with Varsity has been pivotal to my success in the pharmaceutical industry, including helping me break into this competitive field.

Rick Clark  ·  Orlando, FL  ·  Communications  ·  Account Manager

This fortune 500 company was so interested that when the five-step interview was over they wanted to know whom else I could recommend that had also worked with Varsity.

Roger McConnell  ·  Mobile, AL  ·  Edward Jones – Investment Representative

My book selling experience has also provided me with the knowledge to recruit other brokers to the investment business, many of whom worked as students selling books, door-to-door.

Rome Lamont  ·  Charlotte, NC  ·  AT&T – Account Executive

It’s hard to pinpoint a specific time when a certain quality trait enters a young mans life, but one thing is clear to us all, that experience in the field was special and left us with the seeds of staying power, perseverance and a positive winning approach towards life.

Steve Hester  ·  Henderson, KY  ·  Oil Industry – Director of Lease Acquisitions

By dealing with such challenging conditions at a young age, my capacity to cope with problems while maintaining a positive attitude has been a tremendous asset in my present business dealings.

Steve Smith  ·  Louisville, KY  ·  Remax - Realtor

I wouldn’t be where I am today and I can guarantee you that hundreds of other people wouldn’t be where they are either.

Stuart Condie  ·  Charlotte, NC  ·  First Union National Bank of North Carolina

Man, was I scared.

Tom Mallon  ·  Boston, MA  ·  Harvard - MBA

As far as leadership goes, Harvard selects students based on their demonstrative leadership potential.

Warren Wall  ·  Asheville, NC  ·  A.G. Edwards – Investment Broker

Personally, I would not be in the stock brokerage business today had it not been for my experience with the Varsity Co.

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