Grace College marketing student Trevor Rumple is working for DePuy Synthes in a marketing co-op for its hip department as he works toward his college degree. Photo provided by Madison Cowman.

News Release

WINONA LAKE — Grace College marketing student Trevor Rumple is not just working toward a college degree.

He is concurrently working for DePuy Synthes, part of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices group, in a marketing co-op for its hip department. With dreams of starting his own business in the future, Rumple is taking full advantage of getting hands-on experience with this Fortune 100 company located just a few miles away from his college campus.

“Having the intern experience is hugely beneficial for college students,” said Rumple. “School teaches you a lot, but it cannot replicate the realities of a nine to five job —  being on a computer all day, sending hundreds of emails, keeping several projects on schedule and trying to keep it all organized. I can’t speak enough to the benefits of getting this experience as early as you can.”

Rumple transferred to Grace when COVID-19 hit in 2020. With a desire to be closer to his family in Huntington, Rumple selected Grace for its Christ-centered community and the job opportunities in Warsaw, the Orthopedic Capital of the World. It didn’t take him long to get his foot in the door at orthopedic giant DePuy Synthes.

Within his first semester at Grace, he was tackling a long list of tasks in his internship, including creating comparative presentations, launch kits and slide decks. He also has been given responsibilities tracking statistics, fact-checking claims, implementing research and development and testing new virtual reality technology.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot,” said Rumple. “And the people I work under are amazing. They’re always willing to lend a hand and take the time to explain things to me, even when they’re in over their heads with their own work.”

“Trevor has been an awesome addition to the DePuy Synthes Hip Reconstruction Marketing Team,” said Senior Marketing Manager Lakeisha Faulkner-Jenkins, who oversees Rumple. “He has had the opportunity to support exciting projects like virtual reality, financial metrics and new product launches.”

Looking forward, Rumple plans to use the business acumen he is developing to launch some business dreams of his own.

“I have a small side gig business training kids in basketball fundamentals that I would love to see grow,” said Rumple. “Having a solid business background will help me think like an entrepreneur and develop a reputable brand of my own.”

Rumple’s advisor, assistant professor of marketing in Grace’s School of Business, Heidi Miller, has no doubts that Rumple will find success in whatever he sets his mind to.

“Trevor is a leader in the classroom and out,” she says. “He goes above and beyond to get the most out of every group project, every assignment and every applied learning opportunity. It’s been a joy to watch him grow and thrive in his internship at DePuy Synthes. It’s our goal to match every student with an internship that builds their character, competence and service like this one has for Trevor.”