Pub. 15 2020-2021 Issue 1

NEBRASKA BANKERS ASSOCIATION 15 Dethlefs applied what she learned in professor David Aiken’s agricultural law class to research and verify busi- ness entity information. “She could even put together a draft resolution for these customers to review if we didn’t have that information,” Friesen said. Dethlefs also credits her agricultural finance class with helping her understand the loan process. “I really enjoy getting experience,” Deth- lefs said of working on the loans. Dethlefs balanced working full time at the bank and her classes. During the PPP application period, she needed to take an afternoon off to take a microeconomics exam. When she returned, the pile of fold- ers on her desk had grown substantially. Despite her busy schedule, Dethlefs appreciated the opportunity to help deliver the PPP loans. As a product of a small town, she understands how important the program is to rural businesses. “It’s nice to know these loans are helping these people out, especially during these crazy times when everybody is struggling,” she said. Dethlefs will eventually make her way to the teller line. The teller line will give her an understanding of the core systems of the bank. Her internship will expose her to many aspects of working in a bank like loan support and credit analysis. She’s already started working on internal ap- praisals. Later this summer, she will join loan officers on inspections. Friesen said Dethlefs will also assist with the second part of the PPP, the loan forgiveness. Approximately 13 interns are working at Nebraska banks this summer through the Ag Banking and Finance program. Dethlefs has some advice for these cur- rent and future interns. She noted the importance of paying close attention during training. “If you miss one thing, then you mess up the whole thing,” she PPP Internship — continued on page 16 said. Learning frombankers with years of experience has also been a valuable part of her internship. Friesen stressed the importance of an internship for career development. He noted that an internship like the ones offered through the Ag Banking and Finance program helps students understand how what they are learning in class applies to the real world. It can be an eye-opening experience he noted. “There’s nothing that brings something home to a person like actually having a connection with people who are im- pacted in either a positive or negative way,” said Friesen. Banks who host an intern also ben- efit. “We’ve been fortunate to have young people come inwho realize the bank needs something out of this too,” Friesen said.