Hello Everyone! My name is Tanley Andersen and I am so excited to begin my fourth Ogallala Commons Internship. I have lived in Haxtun, Colorado for my entire life, and interning through Ogallala Commons has given me the ability to put down deep-rooted ties to my home and community. The opportunities I have been given through OC have been numerous, as well as beneficial to my future endeavors. I recently graduated from Haxtun High School, and this fall I plan to attend the University of Wyoming where I will obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business Administration.

This summer, I will once again be working with the Haxtun Chamber of Commerce. We are back in full swing here in Haxtun following the pandemic, although the pandemic made certain aspects of my internship more difficult than expected. I got to experience working remotely in order to minimize contact between myself and others. While I did enjoy working from the comfort of my own bed, I missed being able to interact with my supervisor as well as other community members. I am excited to make more meaningful, in-person connections this summer.

I am involved in many marketing campaigns with the Chamber, including local events such as Old Fashioned Saturday Night and Corn Festival. I assist in designing advertising materials for these events, such as logos, flyers, and t-shirts. In addition, I help run the Chamber’s Facebook group, designing and promoting all things pertaining to Haxtun. The picture below features some of the past promotional pieces I have designed for the Haxtun Chamber of Commerce.

I am so grateful for the last three summers I have spent interning with Ogallala Commons. The professional skills this organization has given me have become a critical piece to my success. I have encouraged many of my peers to consider interning with OC, as everyone could benefit from an opportunity to learn within their own community. I am so excited for this year’s internship to begin and to continue to learn myself.