Ballard Center Launches New CSR-Focused Internships

PROVO, Utah – Feb 12, 2015 – Thanks in part to the efforts of Brigham Young University students, diamond materials are on their way to becoming the corporate social responsibility world’s best friend.

As part of the BYU Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance’s internship initiatives, BYU students are partnering with companies, such as diamond manufacturing giant US Synthetic, to improve the world through business.

“The Ballard Center focuses on social innovation, but often students think social innovation is limited to nonprofit or entrepreneurship,” says Alicia Becker, Ballard Center partner relationship manager. “Corporate social responsibility is a different angle to see social innovation in action and show students that no matter what career they choose, there is a way to create lasting impact.”

Working with new partners US Synthetic and doTERRA International, along with existing partner Google, the Ballard Center is working with companies that incorporate CSR into their business models. The additions are providing students the opportunity to see the varied ways they can support any company in its efforts to help solve social and environmental concerns.

“It has been inspiring to work with a company that is interested in building itself in ways other than monetary means,” says Matthew Bare, a mechanical engineering senior from Kennewick, Wash., and the student team lead for the US Synthetic team. “US Synthetic can show it is valuable not just because the company can make diamond products, but also because it can change the world for the better.”

The Ballard Center’s Social Innovation Projects (SIP), a for-credit, on-campus program, acts as a middle ground between education and experience with real partners on actual projects. The purpose of the program is to give students mentored experience to find ways to make a difference through social innovation initiatives.

“I think it’s rare that students will dedicate their entire lives to social innovation,” says Ted Jackson, an economics senior from Gainesville, Va., and the SIP student program director. “CSR is a great way for students to both work at a company and achieve the same goals as social innovation by helping to improve the world in sustainable ways.”

For more information on the CSR internships as well as other SIP opportunities, visit power.byu.edu, or stop by the Ballard Center at 360 TNRB.

The Marriott School is located at Brigham Young University, the largest privately owned, church-sponsored university in the United States. The school has nationally recognized programs in accounting, business management, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems and public management. The school’s mission is to prepare men and women of faith, character and professional ability for positions of leadership throughout the world. Approximately 3,000 students are enrolled in the Marriott School’s graduate and undergraduate programs.