Tombras School Senior’s internship takes her to Pennsylvania’s capital and beyond
Isabella Sucheski, a Tombras School of Advertising and Public Relations senior, is spending her summer interning at La Torre Communications in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Sucheski is originally from the Harrisburg area and decided to study at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, after visiting a family friend and being captivated by the campus atmosphere.
“I was set on going to school close to home, but my mom’s college best friend lives in Knoxville and I wanted to see the city. I just thought I would go and tour colleges and it turned out that I fell in love with it. I loved the big school atmosphere,” she said.
After moving nine hours away from home, Sucheski started off her college career studying political science but transitioned to majoring in public relations in her sophomore year.
“I was super involved in youth government programs in high school and found government very interesting, but in my sophomore year, I started to lean towards the communication side of things and the Tombras School was great about reaching out and helping me meet with an advisor to discuss options, which I was grateful for. I realized that that’s where I should be,” Sucheski explained.
Sucheski is now minoring in business administration and political science.
Highly involved in campus activities, Sucheski was recently elected as vice president of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and inducted into Kappa Tau Alpha. Sucheski is also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and serves on their diversity, equity, and inclusion committee.
The summer before her junior year, Sucheski decided to study abroad in Siena, Italy.
“It was the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said. “I was so nervous. I didn’t know a single person going into it, but Doctor Cho introduced me to the program and I fell in love with it there. It was amazing. We learned global public relations and it just gave me a diverse perspective on culture, communications, and just how your major can take you anywhere.”
This summer, Sucheski is gaining hands-on experience in public relations and public affairs at La Torre Communications, a public relations and public affairs agency, based in Central Pennsylvania.
“My role is basically writing social media for clients. I handle about six different clients during my three months with the internship and they’re great about giving me other opportunities to shadow as well. In the last two weeks, I’ve been to a press conference in the Capitol building, I have gone to a media training for one of our clients, and I was able to see the process and learn as I’ve gone,” she explained.
Sucheski credits her college classes, such as public relations writing, for helping her develop the necessary skills to write quickly on a deadline, use the Associated Press style, and be creative—which have helped her excel in her internship.
When reflecting on her college experiences thus far, Sucheski says she never would have guessed how many different opportunities there would be in government and public relations.
“That’s something I’ve learned through my trips with the school, my internship now, and meeting with peers and alum. There are so many different options in the public relations world. I thought I was alone in thinking that I was interested in government and communications, but it turns out there’s a space for everyone,” she explained.
Her internship at La Torre has helped solidify her career ambitions and has connected her to those in the field.
“I got super lucky to get this internship based in Harrisburg, the capital,” she said.
She encourages other students to take advantage of every opportunity and make meaningful connections.
Tombras School Senior’s internship takes her to Pennsylvania’s capital and beyond written by Kristen Gallant and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.