Summer internship showcase

Chris Malvicini '17, double-majoring in biology and environmental studies, spent last summer scuba- and free-diving off the coast of Salaki Island in the Philippines. Working in one of the world's most biodiverse bodies of water, he engaged in marine science research on giant clam disease and the clam's interactions with territorial farmer-fish species. Above is his internship-photo-contest winning shot.

Computer science major and French minor Claire Stetten '19 taught French and English to young adults and children in Marrakech, Morocco, furthering her communications skills and providing invaluable experience for her goal of becoming a grade-school teacher. Personal highlights for her: being a strong female role model for the kids and inspiring them to continue learning outside of the classroom.

Sunny Tran Thi '18, a double major in business and studio art, was a digital marketing intern with Manhattan-based clothing startup Tucker. Without a lot of revenues or capital, she says, social-media marketing was a crucial means for punching up Tucker’s soft brand identity. But she found that its real effectiveness came when it was integrated with other marketing efforts.

What Malvicini, Stetten, and Tran Thi have in common is that their experiences were funded in part by the Skidmore Summer Funded Internship Award Program, created in 2009 so that students can afford to participate in unpaid internship, volunteer, research, or community service projects during the summer. 

Made possible by Skidmore donors (Parents Council, individual parents, alumni, employees, and friends) and administered by the college's Career Development Center, the program offers a chance to gain knowledge, skills, and experiences that employers and graduate schools are especially keen to see in candidates. In 2009 there were eight award recipients and 18 applications. This year there were 46 award recipients and more than 200 applications. 

In November, 29 funded summer interns (complete list below) gathered at Career Development's first-ever "Showcase of Stars" to tell their stories and get to know each other—and to celebrate their transformative learning experiences and pass along their wisdom  to the next class of SSFIAP recipients.

So what did the internship "stars" learn?

Dikyi Wangmo '18, exercise science: "My experience with the International Rescue Committee was a wake-up call for me to make a difference by helping people get their basic human rights: access to health care, education, government food stamps, and safer and healthier neighborhoods in which to live."

Catherine Headrick '17, art, with a business minor: "I learned that to be an entrepreneur in a small shop, you have to know a little bit about everything, and everything means all business functions: product design and research, marketing, distribution, and more." 

Meaghan Wood '17, exercise science and dance, with a chemistry minor: "Before my internship at the Adirondack Foot Clinic in Malone, N.Y., I wasn't aware of the great demand for podiatric doctors in rural areas. This will help me as I apply to podiatric medical schools and consider where I may need to live to help rural areas, in particular those with large geriatric and Type-2 diabetes populations."

And what advice did they offer?

Jack Curry '18, environmental studies: "If you’re interested in an internship and don't meet certain qualifications or feel that you might not get the position, apply regardless. I didn't meet certain requirements for my Quebec-Labrador Foundation internship but ended up getting it and had an incredible experience."

Deborah Kim '18, chemistry: "If you're not positive about pursuing a certain professional field or would like to gain direct insight into a field, a summer experience is one of the best ways to advance your thinking. Start looking for internships early and don't be afraid to try out something new, whether it's a new experience or a new place."

Taimur Khan '17, geosciences, with a physics minor: "We live in a world that is getting smaller. Don't miss out on the chance to make full use of this privilege. Keep an open mind moving forward, and pursue your interests regardless of what they are. You would be surprised by the things people with similar interests are doing out there. So much to learn." 

To learn more about each of the 29 students listed below—what they did, how they benefitted, what advice they have, see the archive of their presentations here.  

For information on available internships and how to apply, visit this internships page. 

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Summer 2016 Funded Interns

 • Anika Hunter '19 – Double Major: Dance and Spanish

ArtLab J in Detroit, MI

• Catherine Headrick '17 – Major: Art; Minor: Business

Sailormade LLC and Regan Communications in Boston, MA

• Jamie Scherzer '17 – Major: Art; Minor: Business

Melle Finelli Studios and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, MA

• Josephine Wong '18 – Major: Art; Minor: Education

Mok's Oil Painting School in Hong Kong

• Madeleine Welsch '17 – Major: Art

Cultural Center at Eagle Hill in Hardwick, MA

• Olivia Skowronski '18 – Double Major: Psychology and Education

East Harlem School in New York, NY

• Sanjana Gothi '17 – Double Major: Art and Art History

Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, PA

• Chris Malvicini '17 – Double Major: Biology and Environmental Studies

Marine Science Institute in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Philippines

• Isabel Blumenthal '19 – Double Major: Environmental Studies and Spanish

Dickinson College Farm in Boiling Springs, PA

• Jack Curry '18 – Major: Environmental Studies

Quebec-Labrador Foundation in Newfoundland, Labrador, and Quebec, Canada

• Olivia Golden '18 – Double Major: Environmental Studies and Art

Radix Ecological Sustainability Center in Albany, NY, and Roots and Wisdom in

Schenectady, NY

• Patricia McGuire '17 – Double Major: Environmental Studies and Economics

Quebec-Labrador Foundation in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Rafaela Iturralde '18 – Double Major: Environmental Studies and

International Affairs, Fundar Galapagos in Puerto Ayora, Galapagos Islands,

Ecuador

• Deborah Kim ’18 – Major: Chemistry

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota in Roseville, MN

• Dikyi Wangmo '18 – Major: Exercise Science; Minor: MathematicsInternational Rescue Committee in New York, NY

• Julia Howe '18 – Major: Neuroscience

Planting Hope in San Ramón, Matagalpa, Nicaragua; San Luis, Monteverde,

Costa Rica; and Playa Junquillal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

• Meaghan Wood '17 – Major: Exercise Science; Minors: Dance and

Chemistry

Adirondack Foot Clinic in Malone, NY 

• Paul Deutchman '17 – Major: Psychology; Minor: Anthropology

Yale University in New Haven, CT

• Rebecca Lipstein '17 – Double Major: Psychology and Pre-health

Edelblum Lab, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ

• Shivam Goyal '17 – Double Major: Physics and Mathematics

University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI

• Taimur Khan '17 – Major: Geosciences; Minor: Physics

Martin Luther University in Halle an der Saale, Germany

• Wallis Slater '18 – Major: Psychology

Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training in New York, NY

• Eli Roehlkepartain '18 – Major: Economics

Search Institute in Minneapolis, MN

• Noelle Foden-Vencil '18 – Double Major: Biology and Art

ReelDx in Portland, OR

• Sunny Tran Thi '18 – Double Major: Business and Art

Resonance Companies and Norisol Ferrari in New York, NY

• Blair Warren '17 – Double Major: Psychology and Art History

GoEco's Women's Empowerment Program in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Khmer

Institute for National Development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

•Claire Stetten '19 – Major: Computer Science, Minors: French and

Mathematics

International Volunteer HQ in Marrakech, Morocco

• Cinthia Duran '19 – Intended Majors: International Affairs and Dance Corporación Pro-Ideas in Quito and Machala, Ecuador

• Kali Villarosa '18 – Major: International Affairs; Minors: Political Science and

Intergroup Relations

Black AIDS Institute in Durban, South Africa