May 10, 2001 - While some students wait until after graduation to enter the working world, Sloane Romano of Syosset had the opportunity to navigate that terrain a year earlier. After becoming aware of an advertising agency internship through the Cooperative Education Program at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in November 1999, Sloane, then a junior studying public relations and advertising, applied for the position. The paid internship at The Zimmermann Agency was a perfect match for her.

Caroline Zimmermann Bazzini started The Zimmermann Agency for direct marketing and advertising 30 years ago in New York City. Nearly 10 years ago, she relocated the main headquarters closer to home. It was then that a friend and fellow business owner suggested that she look to local colleges for job placement. As a Brookville resident, Caroline turned to nearby C.W. Post Campus.

A lucky break for Sloane as it turns out, who not only had the opportunity to help in the daily activities of Caroline's office, but was also encouraged to get involved in other aspects of the business - from brainstorming to writing copy and from developing design to meeting with clients and helping with production. "I've found that this internship has helped me with my academics, I've learned so much," said Sloane. "But even more, it's helped me to prepare for my career. I've developed computer skills, gotten to know the industry from the inside, and learned how to handle major projects from conception to execution."

Not only did Sloane develop skills, but she got incredible opportunities to network, associating with clients including People magazine, Sports Illustrated, EMAP USA, Hearst Magazines, Conde Nast, and The Chase Manhattan Bank.

C.W. Post's Professional Experience and Placement office places more than 250 students in paid internships each year through its Cooperative Education program. The program is well known for its excellence; it is home to one of only a handful of chapters of Kappa Theta Epsilon National Co-op Honor Societies.

"Cooperative education must be a give-and-take relationship," says Caroline. "Each of the parties - the student and the employer - needs to give something to the other and come away with something beneficial." In this mutually beneficial case, Sloane gained training and experience in the field of her choice, and The Zimmermann Agency received significant help and dedication in return. "She makes a real contribution to the company," Caroline said.

Sloane will graduate from C.W. Post on May 13, and has accepted a full-time job with The Zimmermann Agency as an Account Executive.

C.W. Post's 43rd annual commencement exercises will be held on Sunday, May 13, 2001. C.W. Post is one of six campuses of Long Island University, the eighth largest private university in the United States. C.W. Post's 11,000 students choose from a broad range of undergraduate and graduate offerings as well as extensive continuing education programs. C.W. Post has awarded more than 82,000 degrees in its 47-year history. The campus is located on Northern Boulevard, (Route 25A) in Brookville.