Benjamin Robert Jenkins

373 Newtown Road, Shawsville, VA 24162

brjenkins2015@gmail.com
(540)392-1657

Skills
• Skilled Public speaking and interpretation
• Expert Outdoor skills, including First Aid
• Professional Customer Service
• Seasoned, maintenance worker
• Proficient Leadership
• Well versed with PastPerfect Software, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Able to type 40 words per minute
• Handy cash register operator
• Talented living history interpreter
• Capable of providing guided tours

Education
James Madison University | 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807-0001 | (540)
568-6131
December 15th, 2018, B.A. in Public History
• 2.9 GPA, 3.0 History GPA, 125 credit hours completed
• August 31st, 2015 – December 15th, 2018
• Active member in Madison Historians and Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry
• Over 50 hours of community service
• Completed several projects, including a digital sanborn map and history dissertations on
battlefield preservation and Winchester diarists of the Civil War

Glenvar High School | 4549 Malus Drive, Salem, Virginia 24153 | (540) 387-6536
June 2015, Advance Studies Diploma
• 4.0 GPA, Valedictorian
• August 2011 – June 2015
• Highlander of Honor (Award given to one student who exemplifies Glenvar’s values and morals)
• Active member in French club, National Honor Society, Key club, and Student United Way
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Experience
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (NPS) | 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg,
Tennessee 37738 | (865) 436-1291
ACE EPIC Intern, August 26th - December 16th, 2019; Hours per week: 42 - 46 hrs.

• ACE EPIC Supervisor (American Conservation Experience-Emerging Professional Intern Corps):

o Zoë Gordon – Eastern Regions Manager (NPS)
o (828) 708-4796
o zgordon@usaconservation.org
• Supervisor (GRSM):
o Katie Corrigan – Park Ranger, Interpretation Division
o (865) 436-1257
o katherine_corrigan@nps.gov
• Communicated verbally with families, individuals, and visitors from diverse backgrounds.
• Worked with other rangers and staff in the park’s mission to educate the public on the park’s
natural & cultural significance through outreach, interpretative talks, & educational nature walks.
• Opened and closed the Visitor Center on selected workdays by the supervisor.
• Greeted visitors at the Visitor Center, providing park orientation and information about the day’s
programs and events in order to ensure that visitors have a meaningful, satisfying, and safe park
experience.
• Provided informal talks about the wildlife in the Smoky Mountains National Park and trail walks
on the cultural history of the surrounding area once called “Sugarlands” to visitors; brought about
a different perspective and provided visitors with a personal connection to the park.
• Worked on selected weekdays, weekends, and holidays by the Park Supervisor.
• Performed trail roving rotationally as a way to keep visitors safe on the surround park trails and
facilities.
• Conducted basic, independent research with complied statistical data from books that both
provided the staff and visitors with renewed data and resources and materials for creating
interpretative programs.
• Completed online courses and training (NPS Driving Safety, NPS operations, Interpretation, Trail
roving). Training which included exhibit display making and creating park handouts.
• Assisted with relocating a Black Bear with a Wildlife ranger to a different area of the park and
trained in the procedures in doing so.
• Operated the projectors for the orientation video to the Park and TVs for Park announcements and
weather updates for Safety for the visitors.
• Spent some days training/shadowing with other staff in different divisions within the park.
• Aided a College Graduate student with her microclimate research in the field by collecting data
on soil moisture and temperature changes in the last two months from in-ground sensors placed at
specific locations around hiking trails in the Eastern end of the national park.
• Worked closely with the Park Archeologist to preserve and maintain a crumbling family
cemetery, over 70 years old. As one of hundreds of cemeteries preserved within the Park’s
boundaries, we cleaned-up the burial plots, fixed headstones, and recorded their records in
accordance with protecting the Park’s cultural resources.
• Assisted with annual events such as Christmas past in the Smokies and mountain music concert
celebrations related to the park’s cultural history.

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Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (NPS) | 111 National Park Dr, Appomattox,
Virginia 24522 | (434) 352-8987
Park Guide Intern, March 1st - June 4th, 2019; Hours per week: 45 hrs.

• Supervisor:
o Elizabeth Parnicza - Chief of Interpretation and Education
o (434) 352-8987 x 227
o elizabeth_parnicza@nps.gov
• Communicated verbally with families, school groups, and visitors from diverse backgrounds.
• Worked with other rangers and staff in the park’s mission to educate the public on the park’s
importance and role in American History.
• Opened and closed the Visitor Center and several buildings in the village (Mclean house, Tavern,
Meeks Store, etc.) every workday according to park regulations.
• Greeted visitors at the Visitor Center, provide information about the park regulations, travel
routes, and the day’s programs and events. Also executing assignments in the Visitor Center such
as presenting park orientation and safety precaution to visitors & groups.
• Provided formal talks about the Mclean House & Park Grounds to visitors.
• Provided academic instruction for school groups grades 4 th through 7th.
• Assisted in connection with the 154th Anniversary week doing park-related informal talks, setting
up public displays, and cleaning up around the park.
• Ran public demonstrations of printing parole passes on the printing press for daily and special
events. Furthermore, provided basic knowledge about the parole process and its connection to the
rebuilding of the nation after the Civil War.
• Transcribed historical documents and carried out independent research that provided the staff
with renewed data and resources. This included gathering information from records and books,
compiling statistical data for the program.
• Made social media posts about the park and conducted basic research to assist in developing more
interpretive programs.
• Completed online courses and training (Safety, Customer Service, NPS operations, Historical
Interpretation, Pre-Antebellum to Civil Rights Education).
• Trained in operating various interpretation tools and equipment from supervisor and museum
technician. Additionally, was trained in how to create interpretive programs, exhibits, and park
guidebooks or handouts.

The Virginia Transportation Museum | 303 Norfolk Ave SW, Roanoke, Virginia 24016 | (540)
342-5670
Intern, May 7th – July 27th, 2018; Hours completed total: ~150 hours

• Supervisor:
o Deena Sasser – Historian and Curator
o (540) 342-5670 x 109
o dsasser@vmt.org
• Worked in the archiving and cataloging branch of a local history museum.
• Cataloged various collection pieces to be stored or placed on public display.

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• Operated the PastPerfect Software used in museum archives.
• Organized and labeled items within the archives room.
• Communicated verbally often with visitors at the museum.
• Worked at special museum fundraisers/events (Car-beque, Rail fest, Jazz night, etc.) staffing the
ticket booth, merchandise table, and food vendor.

Lowe’s | 840 Main Street, Salem, Virginia 24153| (540) 378-2030

Part-time Appliance Salesman, May – August 2017; 10-40 Hours/week: 10 - 40 hr.; $12.50/Hour

• Supervisor
o Alan Leonard – District Sales Service Manager
• Worked in the Appliance section at Lowe’s: operated the forklift, moved appliances from the
back storeroom, re-stocked shelves, and cleaned out appliances on the display front.
• Communicated verbally and over the phone with customers with diverse backgrounds.
• Ran the customer service desk: answering phone calls, filling out delivery orders, and informing
customers on the store’s products and deals to offer.
Settled online and phone orders for appliances, operating Lowe’s main sales system to keep track
of inventory and product sales.
• Operated and balanced a cash register daily.

BSA Camp Powhatan | 2600 Max Creek Road, Hiwassee, Virginia 24347 | (540) 980-3787
Brownsea Island Instructor, June – August 2014; June – August 2015; June – August 2016; 40-60
Hours/week; $125/week

• Supervisor:
o Gregory Harmon – Camp Director (2010 – 2017)
• As a veteran Eagle Scout, taught first-year scouts (grades 5-7) scouting skills for rank badges.
• Organized and created class agendas for each week on First Aid, Orienteering, knots, fire
building, camping etiquette, etc.
• Cleaned up campsites and reblazed trails on the weekends in-between camp weeks.
• Provided formal tours of the Campgrounds and the history of the Blue Ridge Scout Reservation to
troops and scout units ranging between 10 to 100 scouts with diverse backgrounds.

Salem Red Soxs | 1004 Texas Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 | P.O. Box 842 Salem, VA 24153 |
(540) 389-3333
Box Office seller, Apr.–Aug. 2014; Apr.–May 2015; Apr.–Aug. 2016; >100 Hours/season; $20/Hour

• Supervisor:
o Nathan Blum – 2014 Director of Ticket Sales and Service
• Sold tickets to hundreds of visitors at every home game.
• Used basic math and numerical calculation to count ticket sales and profit.
• Handled the customer service section in the ticket booth.
• Operated and balanced a cash register daily.

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Community Service and Other Activities
Fincastle/Montgomery County Militia of Southwest Virginia Reenactor Group
• Fall 2018 – Present
• Active participant in local community and regional events portraying 18 th century Southwest VA.
• Providing historical interpretation on the life of a Southwestern Virginian during the 1740s up to
the American Revolution.
• Often participating in and giving informal talks about militia life as either an average militiaman
or as a Loyalist in Southwestern Virginia.
• Took part in living demonstrations such as lantern tours, musket & artillery firing, & militia drill.

Madison Historians (Extracurricular College History Club)

• August 2015 – December 2018 (Graduation year)
• Served as the Club Treasurer from August 2017 to December 2018
• Planned out historic field trips and participated in community service projects related to historical
preservation and regional recognition.
• Handled and balanced the club’s finances, including due payments and trip funding

Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry (Religious Group at JMU)

• August 2015 – December 2018 (Graduation year)
• Served as a Member of the Youth Vestry
• Participated in over 30 hours of community service (foodbank, shelters for the homeless, school
fundraisers, orientation week) and on several group trips/outings (Fall & Spring Retreats, day &
evening trips, Relay for Life team)

Boy Scouts of America

• Active scout from November 2008 to 2015
• Over 400 hours of community service done, 150+ nights camping, and 100+ miles hiking
• Earned Eagle Rank on December 4th, 2013
• 2013 Scout of the Year
• 2012 & 2013 Order of the Arrow Scout of the year
• Member of the Order of the Arrow since 2011 (Boy Scouts of America’s National Honor Society)
o Brotherhood Honor in 2012
Held numerous high leadership roles and positions in Boy Scouts and in the Order of the Arrow
• Recipient of the Cecil Eastridge Founders Award in 2017
o Recognizes scouts and adults whose dedication to the Scouting movement and troop is
beyond outstanding.

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References
Briggs, Jeff
Fincastle/Montgomery County Militia of Southwest VA – 18th century Historical Interpreter
1417 Virginia Woods Drive, Moneta, VA 24121- 4582
(804) 380-1903
grenadier1953@aol.com

Free, Brad
Great Smoky Mountains NP – Park Ranger
C/o 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738
(865) 436-1260
brad_free@nps.gov

Holland, Alyssa
Appomattox Court House NHP – Lead Park Ranger
398 Lee Grant Ave, Appomattox, VA 24522-4937
(434) 664-9690
alyssa_holland@nps.gov

Hubert, Doug
Boy Scouts of America Troop Scoutmaster & Eagle Scout Mentor
2114 Memorial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015-2034
(540) 798-1639
drh1777@gmail.com

Lockey, Laura
Canterbury Episcopal Campus Ministry – College pastor and Mentor
79 Laurel Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801
(540) 246-3032
minnick@gmail.com

Parnicza, Elizabeth
Appomattox C.H. NHP - Chief of Interpretation and Education
PO Box 218, Appomattox, VA 24522-0218
(304) 479-1355
elizabeth_parnicza@nps.gov