EC Wisconsin News

Lakeland University junior Trayvonne Roberts spent his summer working as a marketing intern at the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin, located at the Sheboygan County Airport. The center is a nonprofit museum dedicated to aviation history and is open year-round, offering historic aircraft displays, rare exhibits, and special events.

Roberts, who is from Lynwood, Illinois, contributed to revitalizing the center’s social media presence, designing a new website, and promoting events. He also used his skills in photography and videography to create content that supports the center’s mission of fostering knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math through aviation.

As he looked for summer employment near the end of the spring semester, Roberts reached out to Lakeland’s Cooperative Education & Career Readiness office. He secured the internship at the Aviation Heritage Center and has built a portfolio of work during his 12-week experience.

“I didn’t know anything about aviation going in,” Roberts said. “I love going on planes, but I didn’t expect to be around them unless I was going on a trip. It’s been so cool to learn about the history of aviation.”

During his internship, Roberts conducted interviews with visitors at the center. One notable interview was with a German woman who visited to see the touring C-54 Skymaster flown by Col. Gail Halvorsen during the Berlin Airlift from 1948-49. The visitor shared her memories of living in post-war Berlin and recalled Halvorsen’s reputation as the "Berlin Candy Bomber," known for dropping candy to children gathered near Tempelhof Air Field.

“Taking her video was amazing, but hearing her story of what she went thru was incredible,” Roberts said.

Roberts also had an opportunity to sit inside a small plane's cockpit and fly around the region with a pilot. “I was scared, but scared like excited,” he said. “I’d love to give that experience to other people.”

He described his time at the center as one of growth and connection: “I picked marketing because there are so many areas I can go into,” he said. “I like being versatile and I still have other plans with my degree. Aviation can open a lot of doors for me too.”

Roberts’ interest in photography began when he watched his father work as a portrait photographer while growing up. In high school he started taking photos at athletic events and eventually did portrait shoots himself. He now shares his work on Instagram (Viewsbytray) and maintains an online portfolio.

“I would see the looks on people’s faces from my father’s photos,” Roberts said. “It would bring so much joy, memories you can capture or a specific moment and they won’t go away. The picture lets you feel that feeling you felt in that moment.

“You’ve captured that exact moment, the energy, the smiles. You’ll always be able to remember people even after they’re gone. Photography will always be around no matter how the world evolves.”

Roberts joined Lakeland after being recruited by its football staff; he found it offered an environment where he could focus outside city distractions and get involved on campus life beyond athletics.

In addition to playing football for Lakeland University ("Muskies"), Roberts serves as resident assistant, Blue & Gold Champion member of Beta Sigma Omega fraternity and Black Student Union member; he hopes this year to start a visual media club for students while shooting photo/video content for LU men’s basketball program marketing efforts.

“The people here are amazing,” Roberts said. “There are so many resources. Lakeland helped me break out of my shell. I can walk up to people and introduce myself and not worry about what people might think. I’m building connections.

“I would encourage anyone to embrace new experiences and meet new people without fear. You never know what opportunities those connections might open.”

After graduation he plans either starting his own visual media production company or working as professional sports photographer: “I took some graduation photos and the looks on their faces when they saw them was great,” he said.“When you spend time editing one photo that people don’t see it but they’re happy with final images all time is worth it.”