Student Internship Stories

In the Career and Community Engagement Center, we believe in learning by doing. The Whitman Internship Grant (WIG) program provides students with invaluable hands-on experience across various industries, both in the U.S. and across the globe. In this series, we’ll share inspiring stories from students who have leveraged the WIG to explore work in tech startups, environmental organizations, art galleries, public health initiatives, and more. Discover how these internships are shaping students' futures and how you, too, can benefit from this incredible opportunity.

Image of Zoe LaCombe in a Lab

Improving Therapies for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections

Zoe LaCombe interned at the University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus during the Summer of 2025 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

March 31, 2025

Navi Chandra Gast

Advocating for Fish and River Conservation

Navi Chandra Gast interned at Columbia Basin Collaborative during the Spring of 2025 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

March 31, 2025

Eujae Jeon measuring the length of a lab animal.

Caring for Lab Animals

Eunjae Jeon interned at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Aquatic Propagation Lab during the Spring of 2025 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

March 20, 2025

Image of Children's Museum

Studying How Kids Learn: Interning at the Berkeley Early Learning Lab

Ruby Ahlvin interned at Berkeley Early Learning Lab during the Summer of 2025 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

March 05, 2025

Yahir Tzec taking picture at the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days event

Capturing the Walla Walla Valley

Yahir Tzec interned at Visit Walla Walla during the Fall of 2024 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

November 14, 2024

Finely Harris checking in on the hosted animals

Propagating Aquatic First Food Species

Finley Harris interned at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s Artificial Propagation Lab during the Fall of 2024 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

October 25, 2024

Owen Jakel hitting the books and working on their computer

Engagement With Tribal Communities

Owen Jakel interned at the Tribal Law and Policy Institute during the Fall of 2024 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

October 16, 2024

 Linnea Morris

From Glass to Greatness

Linnea Morris interned at BIG Recyclers during the Summer of 2024 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

September 02, 2024

Nailah Porter

Lights, Camera, Mentorship

Nailah Porter interned at Compton High School during the Summer of 2024 through the Whitman Internship Grant program.

September 01, 2024