Shippensburg University student-athletes are active all summer long performing a myriad responsibilities, with many pertaining to academics or future employment. Over the course of the summer, shipraiders.com hopes to periodically feature athletes who have shared their stories with us regarding how they have been busy during the summer months.
 
Distance runner Alec Brand has been a regular on the SU cross country and track circuit for the past three seasons – consistently qualifying for PSAC Championship runs in the 5K and 10K on the track while serving as a Top 10 team runner during the fall.
 
This summer, Brand is among those SU student-athletes plying their academic wares through an internship – but one that is a significant distance away from his hometown of Doylestown. Brand has leapt headlong into a summer at the Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon.
 
"I didn't know a single person when I moved out to Portland five weeks ago, but I have met some really amazing people in my short time here so far," Brand said. "I arrived in Portland on May 18 and I will be departing on August 18 so that I can return to Ship in time for preseason XC camp. I have had some great times with my co-workers and those are the people that I hang out with the most on my time off from work."
 
The tasks assigned to Brand vary from day to day. One day, he could be interacting with the public and educating museum visitors regarding the Vernier Technology/Design Lab in which he works. He could also be educating the public regarding the museum's innovative 3D printer and explain the major differences between 2D and 3D mapping.
 
On the days he does not serve as a tour lead, Brand is working in the same areas shown on the tours – spending time with computers that develop prints for the 3D printer and problem-solving issues with other lab equipment. He's also in meetings with colleagues discussing new ideas for the museum.
 
Brand is not the only intern this summer at the museum – in fact – he's a part of a team. That aspect -- being on a team -- is a comfortable and familiar setting for the SU distance runner ready to embark upon his senior season this fall. 
 
"Each intern is responsible for developing a 'project' to implement in their lab with the tools that are available," Brand said. "This directly aligns with my mathematics studies at Ship, and when dealing with the public and teaching them about the technology, I am incorporating a lot of techniques that I learned in my Methods I course."
 
Unlike most summer internships, Brand is fully immersed in his surroundings. After all, Portland is 2,730 miles away from Shippensburg – so he's not exactly heading back and forth during the week.  
 
"To make a little bit of extra money, and to get more involved in the community out here, I got a job at a running store called Foot Traffic in Portland where I work on my days off," Brand said. "I have worked many seven-day weeks, but I really like all of my co-workers and much of my time spent at OMSI or Foot Traffic is very enjoyable. Each staff offers unique personalities and I have learned a lot about successful small businesses as well from my time at Foot Traffic."
 
Living in an entirely new environment is hard enough, especially for a 12-week period, but Brand appears to have made a seamless transition with both that experience and in immersing himself at the museum. He's learning a lot every day, and using that knowledge to continue his planning for the future.
 
"I may not necessarily see myself going into the museum field, who knows, but I have learned a lot of new skills that apply my mathematics knowledge to engineering and design applications," Brand said. "That's really cool for me. I have no idea what field I want to end up in, but I feel that this internship is expanding my knowledge base tremendously and making me more multi-faceted from a resume standpoint."
 
This experience in Portland has certainly done that. It's another example of an SU student-athlete who has taken their skills learned in the classroom and applied them into a real-world setting, taking advantage of a wonderful learning opportunity. And it's putting Brand ahead of the curve.
 
"Engineering and technology are extremely prevalent in many work spaces, so having knowledge of that is imperative if you want your choice of where to work upon graduation," Brand said.
 
Brand will be one of four seniors on this year's 2016 cross country roster – a squad that finished fifth in Division II last year. The first meet of the year is set for September 2, under the lights at home in the Piper Alumni Challenge.
 
Shipraiders.com hopes to continue sharing summer stories of SU student-athletes over the next several weeks. If you are a student-athlete willing to share your summer experiences with the sports information office, please contact sid@ship.edu. If you Tweet about it, use the hashtag #MyShipSummer!