Funded internships help students explore, soar
Contributed by Shannon Buckham '12Thanks in part to a funded internship program, 30 Whitman students had the chance this past summer to test the waters in the careers of their choice – literally, for Shannon Buckham ’12 who studied killer whales as an intern at the Soundwatch Boater Education Program in Friday Harbor, Wash.
Each student received a stipend of $2,100 to intern at least 20 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks. The internships they chose were as diverse and varied as the students themselves, ranging from laboratory research to retail, classical radio stations to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Students worked with members of Congress, Asian immigrants, Australian lungfish genes, indie record labels and free range hens.
This fall a group of students, staff and faculty gathered in the Reid Campus Center Ballroom to celebrate the students’ collective accomplishments, with eight internship recipients sharing their experiences and expressing their gratitude for the financial support that enabled them to pursue their passions.
“I have learned an immense amount about the natural history and biology of killer whales and seen all the effort that goes into protecting a species and how I can contribute to such research,” Buckham said.
Alethea Buchal ’12, who interned at the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, said she was proud of what she and her peers had achieved, and she stressed the importance of professionalism for young people entering the workforce.
"I learned something about myself and how I can be a professional and still maintain my free spirit,” she said.
The Whitman Internship Grant, funded by both the David Stevens Internship Endowment and the Parents Leadership Committee, has been supporting student internships since the summer of 1999. Starting this year, all students, including first-years, will be eligible to apply. Now run by the Student Engagement Center, the program provides students with a unique opportunity to explore the career or academic interest of their choice, with the college shouldering the cost of living.
Contributed by Erik Larson '13“Thanks to the internship grant, I gained professional skills and learned about how a nonprofit functions, preparing me for a possible career in the nonprofit sector,” said Erik Larson ’13, who interned for Project Minnesota / León, a volunteer organization in Minneapolis dedicated to strengthening cross-cultural ties through exchange delegations between Minnesota and León, Nicaragua. “Without the funding provided by Whitman, I would have had to work full-time in a job that did not further my career goals the way this internship did.”
Noah Leavitt, assistant dean for student engagement, also touted the benefits of the funding for students seeking to break into a profession or field of study.
“The Whitman Internship Grant is a vehicle to allow all of you to be successful,” he told students.
Robyn Metcalf ’13, who worked with behaviorally challenged kids at the Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center in Seattle, hopes to apply her internship experience toward her goal of earning a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology and working with at-risk populations.
Another opportunity available to Whitman students is the Washington State Work Study Initiative Program, which assists students in finding paid internships. The state reimburses employers for a large percentage of the students’ wages, providing incentive for businesses and organizations to hire students.
"An internship allows students to explore a career, meet and network with professionals, practice skills, and be more competitive after graduation when applying for work or graduate study,” said Susan Buchanan, director of career development.
See the following list for information about all of the students who received Whitman Internship Grants and what they did during their summer tenures.
—Gillian Frew '11
Thanks in part to a funded internship program, 30 Whitman students had the chance this past summer to test the waters in the careers of their choice – literally, for Shannon Buckham ’12 who studied killer whales as an intern at the Soundwatch Boater Education Program in Friday Harbor, Wash.
Each student received a stipend of $2,100 to intern at least 20 hours per week for a minimum of 10 weeks. The internships they chose were as diverse and varied as the students themselves, ranging from laboratory research to retail, classical radio stations to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Students worked with members of Congress, Asian immigrants, Australian lungfish genes, indie record labels and free range hens.
This fall a group of students, staff and faculty gathered in the Reid Campus Center Ballroom to celebrate the students’ collective accomplishments, with eight internship recipients sharing their experiences and expressing their gratitude for the financial support that enabled them to pursue their passions.
“I have learned an immense amount about the natural history and biology of killer whales and seen all the effort that goes into protecting a species and how I can contribute to such research,” Buckham said.
Alethea Buchal ’12, who interned at the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation, said she was proud of what she and her peers had achieved, and she stressed the importance of professionalism for young people entering the workforce.
"I learned something about myself and how I can be a professional and still maintain my free spirit,” she said.
The Whitman Internship Grant, formerly known as the Parents Internship Grant, has been funding student internships since the summer of 1999. Starting this year, all students, including first-years, will be eligible to apply. Now run by the Student Engagement Center, the program provides students with a unique opportunity to explore the career or academic interest of their choice, with the college shouldering the cost of living.
“Thanks to the internship grant, I gained professional skills and learned about how a nonprofit functions, preparing me for a possible career in the nonprofit sector,” said Erik Larson ’13, who interned for Project Minnesota / León, a volunteer organization in Minneapolis dedicated to strengthening cross-cultural ties through exchange delegations between Minnesota and León, Nicaragua. “Without the funding provided by Whitman, I would have had to work full-time in a job that did not further my career goals the way this internship did.”
Noah Leavitt, assistant dean for student engagement, also touted the benefits of the funding for students seeking to break into a profession or field of study.
“The Whitman Internship Grant is a vehicle to allow all of you to be successful,” he told students.
Robyn Metcalf ’13, who worked with behaviorally challenged kids at the Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center in Seattle, hopes to apply her internship experience toward her goal of earning a Ph.D. in child clinical psychology and working with at-risk populations.
Another opportunity available to Whitman students is the Washington State Work Study Initiative Program, which assists students in finding paid internships. The state reimburses employers for a large percentage of the students’ wages, providing incentive for businesses and organizations to hire students.
"An internship allows students to explore a career, meet and network with professionals, practice skills, and be more competitive after graduation when applying for work or graduate study,” said Susan Buchanan, director of career development.
See the following list for information about all of the students who received Whitman Internship Grants and what they did during their summer tenures.