At Baker University, some college students know a side job to make extra money can’t hurt.
Senior Gloria Atanmo is a director for ViSalus, a nutrition company, senior Ryan McCluney is a detention officer at Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center and the House Director for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and junior Caleb Watts is an intern for Sporting Kansas City.
Atanmo learned about her job with ViSalus from a previous Baker assistant wrestling coach. She attended a ViSalus party with weight loss in mind, but also saw business opportunities.
“(ViSalus is) actually currently the number one marketing company in America, and basically you get paid to party,” Atanmo said. “There (are) these things called challenge parties and you throw them at people’s houses or at your own home, and you’re basically spreading the news about a weight loss product.”
Atanmo loves to set her own hours and write her own checks. Through ViSalus, she also won prizes like $10,000 and an iPad 2.
“I’ve already started shopping for my BMW,” Atanmo said. “It’s almost surreal, how fast everything is happening … but you know, this is almost a full-time income. If this pace continues, then I can see myself retiring before I graduate.”
Atanmo recently learned that her name was featured in this month’s issue of the National Success From Home Magazine.
McCluney found his job while being a student and a House Director for Sigma Phi Epsilon. When interning for the Ottawa Police Department, he learned about his full-time job as a detention officer.
McCluney said it is stressful hearing the young men’s stories while learning about their backgrounds at the center in Ottawa.
He said the classes he’s had through his sociology major and conflict management minor have helped with his job, too.
“I’ve got the criminal justice side and I’m also getting the counseling side as well, and dispute resolution, so Baker has definitely prepared me, and I have definitely used a lot of materials from my classes with some of these kids already,” McCluney said.
McCluney suggests to other students wanting a job while going to school to understand time management. He works Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 3- 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 p.m.- 7 a.m.
“It’s been hard to manage, but my professors have been working with me,” McCluney said.
Junior Caleb Watts is managing an internship with Sporting Kansas City, classes and being the Baker University Student Senate President.
Watts is working in the youth development department with Sporting Kansas City and helping with basic intern duties like booking flights for the Sporting Kansas City Juniors.
“Every Thursday after class, I usually go down to downtown Kansas City in the crossroads district and I work until 5:30 or 6 p.m. and then I’ll come home, and then every game day I’m there at least three hours before the game and maybe an hour after,” Watts said. “Usually that’s what takes most of my time.”
Watts found the internship through junior Nate Byarlay who had the position all summer.
Watts said he enjoys working in the sports entertainment industry where he has been able to use skills he’s learned.
“I get to use my business classes,” he said. “For example, every time I’m there, whether that be marketing or business management for example. In class you get to learn about certain things, and then now I get to apply my knowledge to an actual working environment. I’d say out of the interns I’ve seen, Baker prepares us more.”
Watts suggests those looking for a job or internship to contact members of the community.