Last year Lauren Denham was a student at USF Lakeland. Today she’s studying for a master’s degree at the University of Westminster in London and serving as an intern at the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The 21-year-old Polk County native works as a producer for the BBC World Service on “World Have Your Say.” An international news program, it aims for a “global conversation” by letting listeners from all over the world set the program’s agenda and share their views.

“In a typical day,” says Denham, “I’ll contribute ideas in program meetings, follow up on ideas through research, read blogs and identify possible interviewees or contributors, make calls to secure program participants, brief the presenters, and watch pre-recorded interviews and the live program.”

Of course not every day is typical. In May she’ll travel to Africa for two weeks to work on a documentary about AIDS orphans.

The BBC is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world. BBC World Service broadcasts to the world on radio, on TV and online, providing news and information in 33 languages.

Because she is in a course accredited by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council, Denham explains, the BBC considered her application ahead of others. “However,” she says, “the BBC does not guarantee internship placements since it is very competitive. I feel very lucky to be given this opportunity.”

And while an element of luck may have played a part, Denham credits her success to her academic preparation.

“USF Lakeland molded me as a student,” she says. “It taught me to take my education seriously and to always give 100 percent. I was worried about how I would do in school in the UK because I heard they grade quite hard, but USF Lakeland prepared me well. I have been able to keep up with my school work and have no problem excelling in the UK.”

Denham received a bachelor’s degree from USF Lakeland in August 2007. She majored in business administration with focus on marketing and management. At Westminster she is working toward a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. A Winter Haven native, who later moved to Lakeland, she graduated from Bartow High School and Polk Community College.

“I dual enrolled at PCC during my junior year in high school,” she says. “That really accelerated my education because I was able to graduate with my bachelor's degree from USF at age 20 and I’ll graduate with my master's degree at 21.”

Andrew Artis, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing at USF Lakeland, salutes Denham for pursuing not only an advanced degree but also a global perspective.

“Ms. Denham is a wonderfully courageous young woman,” says Artis. “She wasn’t going to just earn her undergraduate degree at USF Lakeland and then melt into the job market. No. She understood the need to expand her education and global understanding. Now she is completing her second semester at the University of Westminster graduate program in London and working as an intern at the largest media organization in the world. Professors at USF Lakeland may have helped her erect her career ladder, but it has been her courage and motivation that has helped her to climb so high, so fast.”

Since its foundation in 1838 as Britain's first polytechnic, the University of Westminster has been closely involved in the business, professional and academic life of London.

“London is a wonderful city full of many different cultures,” says Denham. “I have met people from all around the world and learned so much thus far. It has been challenging being away from my family in Lakeland, but I know this experience is well worth it. One of the best things about London is being able to travel all over Europe. So far I have been to France, Germany and Spain. The cold weather has probably been one of the hardest adjustments. I now realize how spoiled we are in Florida.”

Denham plans to return to Florida – and not just for the warm weather. “Upon graduation, I would like to find a job in local television as a reporter and work my way up to an anchor position,” she says. “I would love to return to the Tampa or Orlando area.”

USF Lakeland’s tagline is “Stay home. Go far.” For Lauren Denham, doing that has taken her farther than she ever dreamed.