Dylan Hench learned a lot this summer.

An intern at All Sports Heroes (asi/251475) in Lowell, MA, Hench also successfully completed the ASI Summer Internship Program, which provides education and other benefits to interns at ASI-listed suppliers and distributors.

“The most significant takeaway from the internship was learning how to communicate assertively with new contacts,” Hench noted in a testimonial about the program. “Previously, I tended to be aggressive in my approach, but this experience taught me the value of pausing, listening and engaging in a more respectful and open manner.”

He added that, even though he was starting from scratch in both sales and the promotional products industry, the internship program helped him gain a deep understanding of promo in a short amount of time. “The program is insightful, yet designed in a way that prevents participants from feeling overwhelmed,” Hench said. “It was an excellent experience.”

Based on testimonials from intern program leaders and Hench’s active participation in the program, Hench was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from ASI.

The ASI Intern Program has been around for eight years, training 1,899 interns from 1,500 member companies. Zoe Thompson, the 2023 scholarship winner, said participating in ASI’s training program “really opened my eyes to the world of promotional products.” She elaborated on her industry experiences in a day-in-the-life video about her time working for Liquid Screen Design (asi/254663).

Each intern that participates in the ASI Summer Internship Program receives free ESP access for the summer, a welcome kit stocked with promotional items, an invitation to attend ASI Chicago, a webinar education series and industry overview, and an internship completion certificate.