By Tori Satchwell, former Eiteljorg marketing and communications intern

Former Eiteljorg marketing intern Tori Satchwell in the Fifth Third Bank Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure holiday model train display

On my first day at the Eiteljorg, I was scared, nervous and felt incredibly underqualified. Then, I saw a grandmother with her granddaughter in the museum’s Western Art Galleries. I remember the grandma leaning down to match the girl’s height, explaining to her the intricacies of the painting. This interaction immediately reminded me of my grandma and our shared love of our hometown museum: the La Porte County Historical Society Museum.

We would spend countless hours wandering through different exhibits about motor vehicles, La Porte’s most notorious resident Belle Gunness, and the various rooms based in different time periods. I would beg to go again and again, and I never thought that as a college student I would again get to experience that same feeling . Seeing that grandma with her granddaughter at the Eiteljorg sparked the same love I had experienced for museums when I was younger — and that is when I knew the Eiteljorg was the place I was supposed to be.

Before summer 2024, I was a rising college senior without direction. I was unsure if I wanted to pursue graduate school, get a job right after finishing college or take an unrealistic gap year and go backpacking across Europe. However, the Eiteljorg Museum helped me find my place. After writing numerous news releases, updating the website and capturing unforgettable moments at events such as Indian Market and Festival, Día de Muertos and the Juneteenth and Jazz Community Celebration, I concluded the marketing world is the place for me.

The Eiteljorg allowed me to hone my writing skills. As a Creative Major at Butler University, I have always had a passion for writing. However, my specialty was writing screenplays and short stories, not writing for the media. With public relations manager Bryan Corbin’s help, I tried to shift my writing from academic to a punchier, news style. I still struggle from time to time, but the Eiteljorg team has supported me with helpful advice, lessons and — most importantly — edits.

Additionally, I helped update the Eiteljorg website and directly assisted with uploading digital photos of artworks for the Quest for the West® Art Show and Sale. Updating the website allowed me to grow in my website design and development skills. Before working at the Eiteljorg, I took a simple WordPress training, but through this internship I quickly developed my skills, and uploading and updating the Quest artwork for the benefit of our website users was a highlight of this work experience.

Tori Satchwell with the painting that won the 2024 Quest for the West® Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award: Pueblo Shapes by artist Brett Allen Johnson

Finally, the Eiteljorg allowed me to gain a new perspective. I got to take photos and assist at Juneteenth, Indian Market and Festival, Quest for the West®, Día de Muertos and various other events. While I was taking photos, I got to experience intricate performances, hear compelling stories and watch wonderful art demonstrations. These experiences allowed me to expand my worldview and recognize more diverse perspectives when considering decisions both at the museum and in my life.

The Eiteljorg Museum is not just a workplace; it’s a place where people with the same mission and goal come together to strengthen it. This experience allowed me to rekindle my passion for museums, but more importantly, I would like to thank the people I have met along the way — former director of marketing and communications Bert Beiswanger, former digital marketing manager Brooke Sullivan, public relations manager Bryan Corbin and director of communications and marketing Katie Warthan — for helping me solidify my future as a marketing professional. I can’t wait to see what the future of the museum holds and what’s next for me.

Editor’s note: Tori Satchwell, a senior at Butler University, recently completed an internship working in the Eiteljorg’s marketing and communications department during summer and fall semester of 2024.

Former marketing intern Tori Satchwell in the Western Art Galleries with the Wilson Hurley three-panel painting, October Suite: Grand Canyon, 1991