Clare Harrington

Clare Harrington completed the iJay Practicum program across two semesters - Fall 2025 (Cohort 24) and Spring 2026 (Cohort 25) - as a member of the Events and Outreach Team. Clare is currently a rising senior, majoring in marketing and human resources management. This summer, she will be working for Commerce Bank as a Commercial Marketing Intern. During her time in the iJay Practicum, Clare accomplished planning and supporting multiple events from start to finish. She helped plan both semesters' iGame and Leadership Summit, and Clare worked collaboratively with her team to execute projects efficiently, while taking initiative on tasks and responsibilities.

As a intern for Special Olympics Nebraska, Clare works directly with event planning and marketing. She assists in creating content and supporting overall program operations. Her experience with event planning from the iJay helps Clare stay organized, while her communication skills allow her to work effectively with her coworkers.

"I was able to further strengthen my written and verbal communication skills. The practicum also helped me build confidence in professional settings, especially when reaching out to others, asking questions, and taking initiative. Overall, the practicum strengthened my communication and interpersonal skills, preparing me for future roles in marketing and event planning."

One of the most valuable skills Clare developed was learning how to manage multiple projects at once while also staying detail-oriented. There were times when plans had to change quickly, and she had to adapt while still staying as organized and professional as possible. Overall, her experience in the iJay Practicum played a big role in shaping Clare's career path by reinforcing her interest in event planning. It gave her real-world business experience with transferable skills that Clare uses daily.