When MSU alumna April Lopez gets up to go to work every day, she doesn't climb into any regular company car; she drives a 27-foot-long, 1,450 pound hot dog-shaped car, also known as the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

"It's like driving a big van with lots of windows," Lopez said.

Lopez, who graduated in 2004 with a degree in advertising, is part of a program sponsored by Oscar Mayer that picks 12 college graduates every year out of thousands of applications and trains them for two weeks at "Hot Dog High" in Madison, Wis., to become "hotdoggers." There are six Wienermobiles crisscrossing the nation.

The hotdoggers drive the sausage-shaped vehicle across the country promoting Oscar Mayer while taking pictures of people with the car.

"Hot Dog High teaches us how to drive the Wienermobile," Lopez said.

Lopez said she was offered the position after attending MSU's minority career fair, and meeting a representative from Oscar Mayer.

She was paired with Penn State University graduate Trina DeMarco who will travel with her.

"So far this experience has been really great," DeMarco said. "It's been really fun and we've gotten to know a ton of people."

Russ Whitacre, mobile marketing manager for Oscar Mayer, believes Hot Dog High, which was started in 1988, serves a valuable purpose to individuals of all ages.

"In the world today, I think seeing the Wienermobile brings a smile to people's faces," Whitacre said. "I think it provides a great deal of relief to people."

Lopez agrees and said meeting people is the best part of her job.

"We did an event at the University of Wisconsin and this guy was so happy to see the Wienermobile," Lopez said. "He got a sticker and whistle and wanted to take a picture with it, but didn't want to be in all by himself. So we got a whole group of people together to take the picture with him.

"That's my favorite part of being a hotdogger, making people happy."

Lopez said the hardest part will be leaving the program and finding a new job.

"You have such high standards after this job, I can't imagine myself sitting behind a desk, not learning something new every day."

However, Lopez and DeMarco have the next year to travel, teaching people all about the Wienermobile. They will spend the next few days in Indiana.

"It's actually really easy to drive," DeMarco said. "It's just hard to find a place to park."