Indiana State University Newsroom

"There ain't no mountain high enough" to keep Indiana State University senior Angela Kuhn from achieving her dreams.

She has proven this time and time again, but most recently as a 2006 recipient of the prestigious Microsoft Corp./American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) summer internship in Washington, D.C.

Kuhn, a management information systems (MIS) and business administration major from Clinton, was one of 10 students nationwide selected for this honor. She credits ISU and her professors for preparing her for this valuable opportunity.

"The management information systems program at Indiana State has given me a new outlook on my future," said Kuhn, who will graduate in December 2006. "I have always had a love for working with computers, and this program not only allows me to do that, but it also is giving me a wonderful background in business."

She's in MIS Associate Professor Jim Buffington's class for the first time in her ISU career, and her presence has transformed the way his students learn and has increased their awareness of persons with disabilities.

"She's academically very good, hard working, well prepared and lively in class," he said. "She brings more than just knowledge to class; she brings energy!"

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Microsoft Corp. and AAPD have joined forces to offer a summer internship program designed specifically for college and university students with disabilities who are interested in careers in information technology.

This year, Kuhn will be one of the students afforded the exclusive opportunity to benefit from highly sought-after internships by participating in an 11-week experience at a federal agency in Washington, D.C. The internship will take place between May 28 and Aug. 12.

"The only thing that would make my degree even more beneficial to me is an internship that complements my education," said Kuhn, who also serves as president of ISU's Management Information Systems Association at ISU. "This internship is the perfect opportunity for me to gain wonderful work experience, and it will allow me to show potential employers what an asset I would be to their company."

After obtaining her first bachelor's degree in geography from Ball State University in 2000, Kuhn faced difficulty landing a job in her area of study, even when she knew she had all of the necessary credentials. "Finding a job after graduating was probably one of the greatest challenges I've had to face so far in my life," she said. "I knew I was more than qualified for the jobs that I was applying for, yet I never received an offer. Facing discrimination in the workplace is quite an eye-opener. Since, I've learned that, if it ever happens again, I do have places I can go to combat it."

During the past several years, Kuhn has found a home away from home in her experiences at Indiana State, and an opportunity to truly excel, get involved and make a difference. She also has not let the negative experiences drag her down. Instead, she has continued to rise above them.

Besides serving as president of ISU's Management Information Systems Association, Kuhn has been named to the National Dean's List (2003-04 and 2004-05), as well as to ISU's Dean's List (2003 and 2004). She's a member of Alpha Iota Mu, the management information systems honors fraternity, and serves as the organization's secretary; Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honors society; and the Golden Key National Honor Society.

"I've never let my disability stand in the way of accomplishing what I've wanted to do. If someone tells me I can't do something, it just pushes me that much harder to prove them wrong," Kuhn said. "Even in 2006, I feel that people with disabilities aren't given enough credit for what they can do. People need to realize that we have the same feelings, emotions, wants, needs and desires as everyone else."

Contact: Angela Kuhn, senior management information systems/business administration major at Indiana State University, (812) 239-6559 or angela_kuhn@earthlink.net; or Jim Buffington, associate professor of management information systems at Indiana State, (812) 237-2281 or sdbuff@isugw.indstate.edu

Writer: Maria Greninger, associate director, Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, (812) 237-4357 or m-greninger@indstate.edu