If you're a fan of UT Permian Basin football, then you've heard of Malik Allen before.  

More commonly known for chasing down ball carriers and quarterbacks off the edge, Allen recently started interning at the Odessa American as a sales representative. 

"I found out about this internship from Elisa Vigil, who let all the football players know there are some internship opportunities that are paid so we could have a potential job," said Allen. "Thankfully by the grace of God, Pat who is the regional owner of the Odessa American called me up and said he had an opening spot. I thought it would be good, not just for right now, but my future jobs as it would help me get more experience." 

During his internship at the Odessa American, Allen has been helping sell the Newcomers Magazine, Best of Andrews, and Best of the Basin Magazine by calling people.  

"He's been amazing. He is disciplined, hardworking, has a great personality, quick learner, on-time and a very polite person," said Pat Canty Regional Vice President & Publisher of the Odessa American. "When we were teaching him how to do sales, he always asked good questions and even asked if he could practice a few times before calling." 

Allen is in his third month of his internship. While he has learned a lot of things so far, he said the hardest thing about his internship was figuring out how to manage more than one job all while still going to football workouts.  

"Some mornings I'm waking up tired not wanting to go to workouts, but I push myself every day and have not missed a workout. The days I don't want to work I push myself," said Allen. "It is just me being determined and God giving me the strength to do all that." 

Allen is currently working on a Business Marketing degree with hopes of starting his career in sales and one day branching off into owning his own business.  

"I'm grateful that I met Pat," said Allen. "From the very first day it was always love and respect. He's been a great mentor, giving me advice on how to be a great salesman and sharing tips on things I can take further in life. I'm very grateful for Pat, he is a great guy." 

Canty is also very glad he has met Allen through this internship and noted he is willing to help Allen where he can going forward.  

"He is going to be successful in whatever he decides to pursue in the future," said Canty. 

Allen's internship was possible thanks to Project IDEA a DHSI grant awarded through the Department of Education. One of the goals of this grant is to offer students the opportunity to have a paid internship experience. Internships are valuable experiences that offer students real world exposure.

Other benefits of these internship are, job security and placement, time management, networking, leadership and social skills, and communication skills.

 Project IDEA's internships are successful thanks to Vigil, Internship Coordinator. Vigil's position is fully funded by the HSI-STEM grant, also awarded by the Department of Education.

Both of these grants work together to offer these internship opportunities to students before they graduate with the collaboration of UTPB's Office of Career Services.

Students interested in future internship opportunities can contact either the office of Career Services, Project IDEA or HSI-STEM grant for more information.