Trayton Ojala said he felt like his internship search was a nuisance to professional contacts, but when industrial designer Joe Moya remembered him a year later, Ojala’s persistence paid off.

Ojala, a senior in Cedarville’s Industrial and Innovative Design (IID) program, is now an intern for StudioMoya in Columbus, Ohio. Moya, who recently moved his business from Westport, Conn., has worked for international companies such as Cuisinart, Timex, Office Depot and LeapFrog, as well as many entrepreneurs. Moya also designs, manufactures and sells Hilljak gun accessories.

Ojala, a student from New Ipswich, N.H., said the internship is a valuable extension of his studies at Cedarville and the International Center for Creativity (ICC). Cedarville partners with the ICC to offer the IID program, and students spend their last two years learning at the ICC studios in Columbus.

Jim Stevenson, president of the ICC, said the project-based program integrates an internship experience through both real and simulated work for clients, but Ojala’s additional experience reflects his work ethic. “Trayton’s extremely talented in a lot of ways,” Stevenson said, “and he’s willing to do whatever someone asks of him to learn and grow.”

Ojala said his experience at the ICC studios taught him the persistence he needed to find an internship.

“The way he got the internship is really a credit to his persistence and positive attitude to keep following up with contacts,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said this experience will also help him find a job in the near future.

“The way he got the internship is really a credit to his persistence and positive attitude to keep following up with contacts,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson said Moya’s company is unique and models many changes emerging in the design industry as new technologies enable professionals to work as inventors, designers and manufacturers.

Ojala said working with professionals in the industrial design field is an opportunity to learn important skills for a future career. “It’s like having another class, but I actually get paid to learn,” Ojala said. “I don’t know if you can get better schooling than that.”

Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University attracts 3,400 undergraduate, graduate and online students to more than 100 areas of study. Inspiring greatness for over 125 years, Cedarville is a Christ-centered learning community recognized nationally for rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings and leading student satisfaction ratings. Visit the University online at www.cedarville.edu.

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