Campus representatives from the Disney College Program are beginning recruitment for students interested in education and work experience at the Walt Disney World Resort.

According to Marielle Kissick, sophomore in business management and campus representative for the program, the Disney College Program offers students around the world an experience that allows them “the opportunity to live, learn and earn in Orlando, Fl., for a semester or longer.”

“You live in a private Disney housing apartment complex with kids from all across the world who have similar goals and aspirations as you,” Kissick, who participated in the program last semester, said.

According to Ashley Vercoe, campus representative and senior in industrial design, the program offered about 30 NCSU students the opportunity to participate in the program last semester.

“That [number] varies from year to year,” she said. “Last semester we had a lot of people apply and I think we had a lot more [N.C. State students] go last year than previous years.”

Students who apply and are accepted to the program have the opportunity to participate in a variety of roles, according to Kissick. She said they can intern with jobs in merchandising, food service, entertaining and hospitality.

“I performed in parades and shows in all five Disney parks,” Kissick said. “You apply for the type of work you want and give them three choices, and when they tell you that you’ve been accepted to the program, they let you know what role they’re offering you.”

Vercoe said she worked in service food and beverages at a restaurant in Magic Kingdom when she participated in the program in 2005.

“It’s a paid internship, so while you’re gaining valuable experience with a reputable company, you also have the opportunity to support yourself,” Kissick said. “It’s all a really good time to get to know people you wouldn’t have otherwise met and just hang out and have a good time.”

Students are able to take classes while they are working, according to Kissick.

“It’s not required to take any classes, but it’s fun because you have the opportunity to meet with some of the top people from the company and they can share your success stories with you,” she said. “I took an exploration in marketing class and we had the opportunity to speak with executives in different facets of marketing, such as brand management, Disney vacation club, Disney cruise line and all these different parts of marketing.”

According to Vercoe, some students can receive transfer credit through the Disney classes, depending on which classes they choose to take.

“To get credit at N.C. State you go through UNC-Greensboro and then it gets transferred to N.C. State as a transfer credit,” she said.

Vercoe said she decided to participate in the program because it was a perfect opportunity to experience.

“I really needed a break from school and everything, so just to get out of North Carolina and have an experience I’ve never had before,” she said. “Disney was a perfect opportunity; it’s given me a chance to get out of my home and get on my own two feet and really enjoy myself in the process.”

Kissick said the program offered her the opportunity to experience what it’s like to live on her own.

“When you’re in college it’s easy to rely on your parents and you don’t really know how it is to live by yourself,” Kissick said. “The program really just opened the door for me and made me realize how much I have to work because I had to create a budget for myself. You also get free admission into the park when you are working there.”

According to Vercoe and Kissick, they, along with the original recruiter, will be on campus on Sept. 18 and 19 to give presentations for interested students.

“I think that it was definitely a great opportunity because it’s actually the number one place to start your career, voted by Business Week,” she said. “I wanted to start my career with Disney because I know it’s important to work from the bottom up, and by completing the program I was able to network with Disney leaders and also to experience what it would be like to work there full time.”