By Taylor Neugebauer, College Relations, CSC
CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State College students Gretchen Kallemeyn of Denver, and Josiah Heger of Hermosa, South Dakota, took different paths during the summer of 2025, but both returned with a deeper understanding of their academic fields and a renewed sense of purpose.
Kallemeyn interned with Toyota Denver Region where she worked across different departments, helping with services, marketing, supply and demand, and sales. Heger completed his internship at South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks (SDGFP) in Rapid City, where he spent time working on habitat management and conservation projects.
Both students found common ground in their desire to learn, contribute and explore potential career directions.
Kallemeyn was drawn to Toyota’s regional office because she wanted to investigate upper-level management and logistics of vehicle distribution and had an interest in automobile sales. Her responsibilities included organizing data, reviewing sales reports and assisting managers with various projects.
“I wanted to know how they accomplished goals and motivated their teams,” Kallemeyn said. “But mostly, I was curious about the process of moving vehicles from the region to the consumer and what support was given in upper levels.”
One of her favorite projects was learning about Toyota’s SmartPath digital retail platform and providing feedback on its accessibility and user friendliness to help the team improve its customer interface. The platform brought financing, viewing and pricing together in one place. Kallemeyn examined how online and in-store car buying worked together to help dealerships to remain competitive.
Kallemeyn said her experience at Toyota Denver Region solidified her desire to join a team that encourages growth, collaboration, trust and variety in management. She said she gained a new appreciation for behind-the-scenes roles and the importance of communication in achieving shared goals.
Meanwhile, Heger, an environmental science major, found his passion for conservation work through hands-on projects like building beaver dams and planting trees at Custer’s Meeker Ranch Wildlife Refuge.
Heger and his team used natural materials such as mud and timber limbs woven between vertical log posts driven into streambeds. They planted willow tree saplings in protective plastic tubes supported by bamboo to protect the saplings from weather and animals.
He felt this project will make a difference in the future of the Black Hills since the SDGFP plans to reintroduce the beaver population in the region.
“Seeing the impact of what we were doing made me realize I’m more drawn to environmental impact work than geological,” Heger said.
Heger credited his CSC coursework with preparing him for the environmental project and said that being an intern with the SDGFP helped him refine his career goals. Like Kallemeyn, Heger emphasized the value of staying open to new experiences.
“Apply for everything,” he said. “Even if it’s not exactly what you think you want. Who knows, you might just find a new passion.”
Both students said their internships gave them a clearer picture of their professional interests and the confidence to pursue them. Whether in a corporate office or out in the field, they found value in being curious, asking questions, and embracing new experiences.