Working within the Congress of the State of Hidalgo in Mexico, this student spent the summer gaining firsthand experience with legislative processes and public service through a CCPD-supported internship*. By contributing to policy research, supporting community engagement, and observing congressional sessions, the experience strengthened communication skills and clarified a long-term commitment to advocacy and public leadership.

“This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at the Congress of the State of Hidalgo in Mexico. As a Political Science and Economics major, I was excited to witness how legislative work operates from the inside.

Throughout my time in Congress, I supported a variety of responsibilities, including drafting reports, assisting with policy research, coordinating logistics for community events, and attending congressional sessions. One of the most fulfilling parts of the experience was engaging directly with constituents during public visits and listening to their concerns. These moments reminded me that meaningful political work must begin with empathy and accountability.

This internship pushed me to grow both professionally and personally. I became more confident in my ability to communicate across different audiences. More than anything, I discovered how much I value work that is rooted in public service, collaboration, and long-term impact. It confirmed that I want a career where I can use my skills to advocate for others and contribute to real, structural change.

Receiving a stipend made it financially possible for me to pursue this opportunity without added concerns. I am also grateful for the guidance I received from the Center for Career and Professional Development throughout the application and reflection process. The reflection process especially encouraged me to think deeply about the path I want to take, not only at a professional level, but also at a personal one.

This internship not only deepened my commitment to public service but also gave me a clearer vision of the kind of leader I hope to become. I leave with a new sense of purpose and a deep appreciation for the power of politics to make a real difference.” – Alondra Danahe Montoya Martinez ’28

*Internship stipend applications are now open, learn more here.

During a CCPD-supported summer internship*, this student worked as a software intern at Entwicklerburg, gaining experience across both research-based tasks and hands-on development. By contributing to an internal tool built from scratch and reflecting on different types of technical work, the internship clarified which aspects of software engineering were most engaging and where to focus future learning.

“This summer I had the chance to intern at Entwicklerburg as a software intern. It was a really valuable experience that especially helped me understand more about the kind of work I enjoy and what I want to focus on in the future. 

At the beginning of the internship, I worked on a project that was mostly research based. My job was to collect information, compare different approaches, and share my findings with the team. It was interesting and helped me practice being organized and careful with details, but I realized it wasn’t the type of work that made me feel most excited or motivated. I was then able to switch to another project that focused on building an internal tool for the company. This internal tool was a calendar system from scratch. It lets workers schedule their vacation days, and it can be accessed from two sides: one for employees and one for management. This project was much more practical and let me actually write code. I really enjoyed watching the tool improve step by step. 

Through this internship, I had a lot of insights. It is important being open to change and willing to try something new. It helped me improve my coding skills and that’s something I wanted to do starting this internship. Moreover, after working with full-stack development I realized I needed to deepen my knowledge in back-end and how it connects with front-end. 

I am very thankful to the CCPD for their support, which made this opportunity more meaningful.” – Nailia Narynbek Kyzy ’27

*Internship stipend applications are now open, learn more here.

Supported by a CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, this student spent the summer working in a neuroscience lab at Washington University in St. Louis, conducting behavioral assays on mouse pups to study genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders. Through hands-on research, data analysis, and collaboration within a lab setting, the experience offered insight into both the realities of scientific research and the kind of work environment they hope to pursue in the future.

“Hi, my name is Carter Haley (far right), and this Summer I worked at Washington University in St. Louis in the lab of Joe Dougherty (middle). I was under the supervision of Susan “Suz” Maloney (not pictured) and Joshua Thope (not pictured), and I was primarily doing behavioral assays on mouse pups to study the effects of genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders.

I ran two studies. In the first study, I studied the neonatal communication alterations in mouse pups caused by Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). We recorded the ultrasonic sounds, aka ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), in order to look at an Autism Spectrum Disorder phenotype found in humans with NF1. The second study focused on the neonatal motor assessment of mice with MYT1L syndrome. I performed a battery of tests on pups that were less than 1-2 weeks old to study a hypotonia phenotype, which is common in human patients with MYT1L syndrome. I was also responsible for genotyping, husbandry (taking care of mice), data analysis, reading papers, and presenting research findings, both mine and others.

During my time in the lab, I learned a lot about the pressures and responsibilities of working in a lab. I also learned a lot about myself and what my ideal work environment looks like. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and the community that I built with the members of the lab.  I look forward to utilizing the skills I learned in this experience to inform the future lab I work in. I will never forget this experience.” – Carter Haley ’28

This summer, with support from a CCPD Internship Stipend, a K student joined the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City to work at the intersection of food systems and public health. From assisting with culinary medicine classes for cancer patients to promoting local food access initiatives, the internship provided hands-on experience in community-based health work and reinforced a growing interest in equity-driven public health careers.

“This summer, I had the opportunity to intern with Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City, Michigan, where I worked closely with the organization’s Food and Farming team. Groundwork focuses on creating healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities, and my work centered around the intersection of food systems, health, and community engagement. 

One of the most meaningful parts of my internship was assisting in culinary medicine classes at the Esperance Teaching Kitchen in partnership with Munson’s Cowell Family Cancer Center. These classes introduced cancer patients and survivors to practical, plant-forward cooking skills as a tool for healing and well-being. In addition, I helped with community outreach projects like promoting local farmers markets, supporting programs such as Senior Project Fresh, and writing articles for the Traverse City Record-Eagle to highlight food access initiatives across northern Michigan. 

Through these experiences, I gained invaluable skills in public health communication, community engagement, and program development. I learned how to adapt nutrition education to different audiences, how partnerships strengthen public health initiatives, and how storytelling can inspire community change. Perhaps most importantly, I grew more confident in my ability to bridge my academic background in community and global health with real-world applications. 

This internship affirmed my passion for pursuing a career that combines public health, food systems, and social equity. It also deepened my commitment to working alongside communities to address barriers to health and well-being through collaborative and creative solutions. 

I am especially grateful for the support I received from Kalamazoo College’s CCPD and the internship stipend, which made it possible for me to fully immerse myself in this experience. Looking back, I can see how much this summer shaped my professional goals and helped me imagine new pathways forward in health and equity work.” – Amelie Sack ’27

With support from the CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, this student interned under Judge Curtis Bell in the 9th District Court. The internship combined legal research, writing, and courtroom observation, building confidence and confirming a growing interest in pursuing a legal career.

“This summer, I worked as a judicial intern under Judge Curtis Bell in the 9^th District Court civil trial division. Over the course of my internship, I handled a wide variety of projects and responsibilities. Most of them involved legal research on the elements of the cases at hand, and finding relevant information for Judge Bell. This necessitated gaining familiarity with the Westlaw database, which is needed during law school and beyond. These research projects also included writing memos outlining the answers from the research. This type of writing was new to me, but under the mentorship and feedback of Judge Bell, I not only gained confidence in this skill, but enjoyed the process. I also used my research to create presentations and other relevant writing projects. Another important piece of this internship was observation of courtroom proceedings. This helped me gaine valuable insights on the day-to-day life in the legal field. I learned a lot through this observation and especially the opportunity to ask questions after. By practicing legal research and writing, observing courtroom proceedings, and asking questions to Judge Bell, I grew my overall knowledge of the law and the legal profession. This experience strengthened my resolve to pursue a career in law, and has given me connections, resources, and skills that will be invaluable in this process. The skills I’ve gained have also given me confidence to take on new experiences, even if I don’t feel prepared at first.  

Without receiving a stipend from the CCPD, I would not have been able to experience this internship and all of the benefits that it’s provided me. Importantly, I was able to work 40 hours a week which allowed me to be entrusted with long-term projects and see them though until completion. I am also grateful for the opportunity to provide reflection essays to the CCPD, as these assignments let me reflect on the positive impact that this experience has had on me.” Eleanor Bernas ’26