Ball State University alum hired for Tourism and Marketing internship for the summer season

Tori Smith has been hired as a Tourism and Marketing intern for Jasper County Economic Development and Jasper County Tourism Commission for the summer. 

Smith will be responsible for creating promotional pieces regarding Jasper County events, organizations and community members. 

Sara DeYoung, JCEDO and JCTC Executive Director, said having additional staff would be helpful for covering Jasper County’s many events and organizations. 

“The Tourism Commission is in the final stages of completing it’s strategic plan and during this process we’ve realized how much is going on in the communities, but that is not being promoted to its full potential. Having someone like Tori will help us do that.”

Growing up, the fictional character Nancy Drew was Tori Smith’s role model. Her tenacious attitude, ever-growing curiosity and ability to solve any challenge in front of her inspired Smith. She could always be found hidden beneath her green bedding and a flashlight holding a mystery past her bedtime. 

Wheatfield native

Smith has lived in Wheatfield, Indiana, for almost 18 years. She went to Kankakee Valley High School and chose to focus her studies on Radio and Television classes, which is where she was inspired and encouraged by her mentors to enter the world of journalism. She was also a part of the KVHS dance team, Foreign Language Club, Broadcasting Club, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and spent three years competing in Business Professionals of America’s competitions in the Broadcasting and Video Production teams. During her first year in the club, her team earned number one in Indiana, and went to Texas to compete in nationals.

 During her senior year, she reached out to the local paper in DeMotte, Indiana, on a whim to see if she could possibly write a few articles for the paper. She ended up writing for it for the entirety of her senior year, even receiving a ‘thanks’ in the paper’s graduation edition. She graduated in 2020. 

A new Ball State alum

After spending one virtual year at Ivy Tech Community College, she spent three years on Ball State’s campus studying journalism, with a minor in professional writing. She was a lifestyles reporter for the Ball State Daily News and the Executive Editor for Ball Bearings Magazine, where she co-edited its Space Issue. She also worked at Ball State’s Learning Center and the David Owsley Museum of Art (DOMA), where she ran DOMA’s blog, assisted with social media, and helped with museum events. 

During her last semester at Ball State, Smith was required to take a class called ‘Writing for Community Action’ for her professional writing minor. Through a community project at an animal shelter, the various guest speakers presented in class, and the reading and exercise material, Smith knew she wanted to find a way to work in her hometown before she headed off to graduate school. That’s when she reached out to JCEDO to see what impact she could make. 

“Tori’s timing was perfect, as our office had discussed in January of this year what the benefits of having an intern over the summer might be.. Having additional staff during this busy time of year will ensure we can better assist groups and organizations with planning, advertising and covering these events. We do amazing things in Wheatfield, DeMotte, Remington and Rensselaer, and those efforts need to be recognized and highlighted,” said DeYoung. 

The community action class wasn’t the only time Smith has done community work. She spent two semesters working for Inform Muncie, a Ball State, instructor-led publication that focuses on giving voices to those in under-represented neighborhoods. There, she reported on international students who were living near Ball State, language diversity in the local school, cultural competence, and other challenging topics.

Her next adventure

Smith will be heading to Phoenix, Arizona, this fall to start her masters degree in investigative journalism at Arizona State University. She hopes to continue reaching her dream of being the next Nancy Drew. Even though she credits her tenacious attitude, ever-growing curiosity and ability to solve any challenge to Nancy Drew, she credits everything else to her parents, Chandler and Toni Smith.

About Jasper County Economic Development

The mission of JCECO is to strengthen and diversify the local economy, attract quality jobs, and encourage entrepreneurial growth to create opportunities for Jasper County and its residents. JCEDO does that through business retention and expansion, workforce development, small business development, community engagement and tourism. JCEDO is a 501 c 3 organization. 

Jasper County Tourism Commission

Jasper County Tourism Commission is a five member local government appointed board with representatives from various sectors of the hotel and tourism industry. JCTC was formed to promote the development and growth of the convention, visitor, and tourism industry in Jasper County and has the authority to allocate some of the funds generated by the Jasper County Innkeeper’s Tax.

The JCTC has established the Community Activities Support Program and the Capital Project Support Grant in order to supply funding, at its direction, to Indiana not-for-profit organizations to promote and encourage conventions, visitors, and tourism in Jasper County. They have recently completed a new website, discoverjaspercountyin.com. 

For more information regarding Jasper County Economic Development or the Tourism Commission reach out to Sara DeYoung, [email protected].

 To contact Tori Smith, JCEDO Intern, regarding community events and projects email [email protected]