When Steve Tanzilli received his first unpaid internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates “many, many years ago,” he was fortunate enough to have his parents’ financial support.Their “economic wherewithal” was the enabling factor that allowed him to take part in an opportunity that he considers to have initiated his career in sports marketing.Now, his position as director of the sport, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) program at Point Park University allows him to facilitate in providing four SAEM students with the same opportunity.For seniors Elizabeth Birdsell and Megan Beavis and juniors Rachel Cullari and Bryanna Kiselauskas, their hard work has finally paid off, literally. “A lot of the internships in this industry are unpaid … I remember thinking to myself that if I ever had the chance, I would create an opportunity for students to really launch their careers with the perfect internship and not have to worry about how to pay for it,” said Tanzilli Tuesday in his office in the School of Business. “When I came to Point Park and helped to start the program in the early 2000s, I brought that concept to life.”To qualify for the funded internship, SAEM students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA have a second-semester sophomore status and be considered a “good member of the campus community.” From there, applicants have to submit an application, a resume, a cover letter, an essay, an extensive e-portfolio and, finally, have to interview.The recipients must find and obtain an internship “basically anywhere in the world.” They are provided compensation for the costs of transportation there and back, public transportation while they are there, housing and a weekly $200 stipend which will allow them to “focus all of their energy” on the internship, without needing a side job, Tanzilli said.                  Tanzilli feels that the funded internship has been a “great success” over the years, having sent students to London, Australia, Hawaii and all over the United States for their “dream internships.””You only get a job in this business by knowing somebody,” Tanzilli said. “It’s all about relationships – who you know – and how you make those contacts is through internships, by shadowing, networking, joining associations. Internships are absolutely crucial on the way to employment.”Until this year, the opportunity has traditionally been funded by the Frank Sinatra Pioneer Golf Classic each year in May, usually at the Laurel Valley Golf Club. Tanzilli said the SAEM program is currently looking into the possibilities for a new event to “keep the funds going,” presumably one that is held at Stage AE, on the North Shore.”It’s something that we want to be student-run, whether it’s a concert or a fashion show or a combination of the both, the money will be raised through sponsorships and ticket sales,” Tanzilli said. “It would also allow [students] to roll up their sleeves and get hands-on experience while giving back to the program.”Beavis “didn’t even have words” to describe her excitement and gratitude when Tanzilli told her over the phone she had been selected to receive the funded internship.After being offered an intern position with two possible companies, Beavis is currently in the process of deciding between them, both of which will take her to Los Angeles for the summer. The first, DDO Artists Agency, is a full-service talent agency that represents performers in commercials, television, film, music videos, live stage and Broadway. Mosaic Media Group, Inc. is a talent-management company that works mostly with movie production and talent representation. “I know I want to pursue dance – be in music videos, go on tour, do the commercials. That’s the field that I’ve always wanted to get into,” Beavis said Tuesday in the Lawrence Hall lobby. “This summer’s going to be the point where I figure out exactly what I want to do. It’s going to be a big step in deciding if I want to eventually move out [to Hollywood].”Cullari was also enthralled to learn that she was awarded this opportunity.”I wanted to scream, but I was on the phone with Steve and I thought that might not be very professional,” Cullari said Tuesday in Point Park’s Office of Admissions, where she works.After hearing the news and relaying it to her family, Cullari e-mailed Events in Motion, a full-service event planning company located on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The company, which designs events such as movie premiere and wrap parties, weddings, fundraisers and events for “large-name” corporations, like Nike, got back to her later the same day and she eventually secured the internship.Kiselauskasalso hopes to spend her summer planning events in Los Angeles and has applied through Dream Careers, a website that connects students with internships in the United States and international locations in their fields of interest. “I hope that this opportunity will give me the experience and connections that I need to be successful,” Kiselauskas said via e-mail. “It will help put me one step ahead … to finding my dream job.”Birdsell, who was in tears after finding out that she was selected, was overjoyed that the extensive effort she dedicated to her time at Point Park was going to be reciprocated.”Basically we’ve been applying for this [internship] for years,” Birdsell said Tuesday in her apartment. “Since we came here to Point Park, we’ve had to set an example and get involved.”Birdsell received an internship at the San Jose Downtown Association, a business improvement district where she will be able to plan events such as the farmers’ market, movies and concerts in the park, with the enticing promise of “no rain all summer” in California.