Vermeer Bulldogs

The Jay N. Darling Institute at Drake University and Vermeer Corporation have partnered to create a unique educational and professional development opportunity that provides educational, mentoring, and internship opportunities to students beginning in the spring semester of their sophomore year. Like many global businesses, Vermeer Corporation needs team members who can hit the ground running and help the organization thrive in a variety of competitive environments. Drake University has a new model for collaborating with employers to prepare graduates who are “Digital Bulldogs” — poised to be an entrepreneurial leader within their profession. Selected students will partake in a 1-credit mentorship course in the Spring of 2026. Once in the pipeline, students will be eligible to apply for future internships and eventual employment after graduation.

Eligibility criteria:

• Sophomore standing at Drake University.
• Preference will be given to students with declared majors in one of the following: Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Analytics, and Information Systems.
• Vermeer policy stipulates this opportunity is only available for students that do not require visa sponsorship now or in the future.

To learn more, watch the following video:  here.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2025. To apply, submit a resume and answers to the following questions to Prof. Keith Summerville at keith.summerville@drake.edu.

1. The partnership with Drake University and Vermeer Corporation is intended to develop professional skills, refine future interests, and provide opportunities to launch your career both during and after your time as a student at Drake. How will this program help you reach your education and/or future goals? (5-6 sentence limit)
   
   
2. How do you approach solving problems as part of a team?  What are your strengths and opportunities to grow when working as part of a team?  (4-5 sentence limit)
   
   
3. Pick ONE of the following two questions (3-4 sentence limit):
   • Why might you be interested in pursuing a career at Vermeer Corporation in the future?
   • How will this program help you reach your education and/or future goals?
4. What student organizations or extracurricular activities are you involved in? Explain what you have learned by being involved in these activities or how these experiences have helped you apply what you’ve learned in the classroom. (4-5 sentence limit)

Students are encouraged to contact Annette Watson: annette.watson@drake.edu (Zimpleman College of Business) or Rebecca Muntz:  rebecca.muntz@drake.edu (Arts and Sciences) for any assistance with resume preparation