Columbia State students Annah Reischman and Daniel Reisinger were selected for internships in accounting at eCard Systems.

Students can develop needed skills by engaging in challenging and interesting situations in the workplace. Work-based learning is important because it provides opportunities for students to develop their abilities in real-world work environments.

“While working as an intern at eCard Systems, I have discovered a true passion in the field of accounting,” Reischman said. “This internship better prepared me for the future by solidifying my knowledge of accounting, introducing me to the work environment and adding experience onto my resume. This experience has guaranteed my future in accounting.”

According to Holly Brew, Columbia State associate professor of business, the Columbia State and eCard Systems partnership has been a rewarding experience for faculty and students.

“The partnership is opening doors of opportunity for Columbia State students,” Brew said. “We have received exceptional feedback about our students, and we are very proud of them. eCard Systems is becoming a valued partner, improving opportunities for students and creating new pathways for student success.”

Melanie Coleson, eCard Systems accounting manager, and her team are providing guidance for students to help them prepare for entering the workforce.

“We are so pleased with our interns,” Colson said. “We will absolutely do this again next year.”

Reischman and Reisinger have worked with eCard Systems to perform a variety of accounting-related tasks, including invoice, refund, data entry and QuickBooks use. 

“This internship has given me the opportunity to get a feel of what it is like to work in an office environment,” Reisinger said. “I have been assigned a variety of projects and have learned new financial and computer skills. I have mostly enjoyed working closely with management and other members of the Accounting Department as a team.”

Accurate accounting is a key component of any successful business. Columbia State's two-year program represents the first step toward a career in accounting, auditing or finance. To learn more about a degree in accounting from Columbia State, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Accounting.

eCard Systems, located in Brentwood, TN, offers branded and pre-designed gift cards, custom-branded and off-the-shelf merchandising for gift cards, and an array of displays to meet customers' needs. Visit www.ecardsystems.comto learn more.