Tara Buehner, a 2007 graduate of Black Hills State University, is now completing a two-year Society of Professional Journalists Ward Neff internship in journalism at South Dakota State University in Brookings.

Buehner will compile the current media-related news and send it via the SPJ PressNotes daily email newsletter to about 1,000 subscribed media professionals every weekday. She will also be responsible for finding information for SPJ’s magazine, “The Quill” along with other responsibilities in the journalism department.

As the selected intern for this program, Buehner will receive a $15,000 annual stipend along with her tuition for those years waived.

The Ward Neff Internship was created in honor of the former president of Sigma Delta Chi which has evolved into the Society of Professional Journalists. This prestigious internship is awarded to only one journalism program nationally every two years. The college chosen for this award was SDSU, which Buehner had previously decided to attend as a graduate student.

A Black Hills native, Buehner attended the Spearfish school system and graduated in 2002. She received her Honor’s Bachelor’s degree in multimedia and communication art from BHSU in the spring of 2007.

During her college career, Buehner became involved in the award winning TODAY newspaper published by the campus along with the BHSU radio station, television station, and advertising agency. She has also freelanced, designing websites, logos and other publications while pursuing her degree.

Her interest in the world of health and wellness may lead her to a career in health publications. Buehner has completed two half-marathon runs and is working towards running a full marathon. Buehner’s current career goal is to return to BHSU and work on campus as a professor.

For more information regarding the Ward Neff Internship, visit www.spj.org.