A Summer at GAPP: My Internship Experience

This summer I had the privilege to be the digital media intern for GAPP. I currently attend Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where I will begin my senior year studying business management in the Fall, followed by a master’s in business in Spring of 2026. I was born and raised on Bainbridge Island, Washington and have never been able to get enough time on the beach and water- yes even in the freezing Puget Sound. In my free time I love to surf, wakeboard, and read (not so coincidentally all beach activities).

As a Bainbridge Island local I care deeply about the environment and the ocean. I jumped at the idea of meshing my passion for the environment with my business management degree. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to create fun and engaging content about the sustainability of Wild Alaska Pollock. It was encouraging to find a high level of engagement with an environmentally friendly product. Speaking of amazing products, Wild Alaska Pollock. What an amazing fish! I could not believe I lived my whole life without knowing the mighty Filet-O-Fish protein. I was proud and inspired to create content about this versatile fish. From surimi to Michelin star plates, Wild Alaska Pollock can do it all.

As an intern this summer, I helped edit and post recipes to the GAPP website, created Pinterest recipe graphics, created TikToks, and wore GAPP’s beloved mascot, Dutch. If I was asked if dressing up as a mascot was part of a summer internship, I am not sure I would have believed it. I had a blast creating TikToks around the Seattle waterfront as Dutch and developing a newfound respect for mascots. Boy, are those suits saunas! I had fun getting creative with TikTok concepts, outfits, and themes. My favorite theme was dressing Dutch as a Love Island character which included a bikini top, sarong, fish purse, and a whole lot of sass! I aimed to strengthen engagement by combining pop-culture news and trends with Wild Alaska Pollock facts and news.

One of my favorite experiences at GAPP was attending a team lunch at Cinque Terre Ristorante in West Lake, Seattle. I was served three delicious courses, all starring Wild Alaska Pollock. I typically think of Wild Alaska Pollock as fish sticks or surimi, so it was spectacular to witness it as the star of the show in an upscale restaurant. It was inspiring to grasp the possibilities for a sustainable fish and the magnitude of a positive global impact Wild Alaska Pollock holds.

I am proud to say I was a part of the GAPP team this summer and was so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible, hardworking team of individuals. It was inspiring to witness an organization that is proud of their mission and product. My experience interning at GAPP instilled a strong commitment to ethical business practices that I will carry with me throughout my career ahead.

While I am not exactly certain of my future career, I am grateful to have gained an abundance of information, experience, and insights from the GAPP team. I cannot thank them enough for welcoming me to the team for the summer!