Supported by a CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, Luis spent the summer interning with Gente Organizada, a community-led social action nonprofit in Pomona, California. Through a self-designed narrative project focused on the implementation of ethnic studies in local high schools, they led interviews, built community connections, and gained a deeper understanding of how grassroots organizing turns community needs into lasting change.

“Over the summer, I interned at a community-led social action non-profit organization based in Pomona, CA called Gente Organizada. I’ve been a part of this organization since I was in middle school and have had the opportunity to intern with them over the past two summers, thanks to the support of the CCPD, which provided me with the funding to prioritize this type of work without worrying about any financial burden. This summer, my internship also doubled as a component of my Senior Individualized Project (SIP), where I took the lead and created a project opportunity in collaboration with Gente Organizada.

My work for the summer consisted of a narrative-based project regarding ethnic studies being implemented in the high schools of my hometown, Pomona, CA. My project aimed to cover three main points: to understand why the community felt the need for the students of Pomona to have an ethnic studies class, to highlight and gain a deeper understanding of how community members’ work contributed to the creation of this course, and to speak on the next steps now that the curriculum is being implemented.

I was the lead on this project, which meant I was responsible for all aspects of the project, including, but not limited to, creating the questionnaire, conducting outreach to potential interviewees, scheduling one-on-one meetings, arranging interview times, setting up equipment, and conducting the interviews. This experience and workload gave me a greater appreciation for the work that organizations such as Gente Organizada conduct, as well as the level of work and care required for different projects or campaigns.

This experience also strengthened my outlook on the future regarding possible careers after college. In my future, I definitely see myself working in a space like Gente Organizada or in a career field with similar goals or qualities. Overall, the work I accomplished over the summer was incredible and has benefited not only me but also served as a foundation for future work in ethnic studies at Pomona, as I left Gente with a record of work but also new connections.” – Luis Castro-Limon ’26

Supported by the CCPD Summer Internship Stipend, this student spent the summer in Amman, Jordan, working with the Institute for Family Health to strengthen healthcare access for vulnerable communities. From identifying service gaps to supporting inclusive education initiatives, their work offered a powerful glimpse into the impact of global public health collaboration.

“This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the Institute for Family Health (IFH) in Amman, Jordan. IFH is a regional model for comprehensive, accessible, and integrated healthcare and social services. Established in 1986, IFH provides high-quality primary health care, mental health and psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and protection services to vulnerable populations, including refugees, women, children, and persons with disabilities. With a network of clinics across Jordan, IFH combines direct service delivery with training, research, and advocacy to strengthen health systems and promote the well-being and dignity of individuals and communities.

Throughout the summer at IFH, I supported efforts to strengthen healthcare access in Jordan by identifying service gaps in Amman and other vulnerable cities. I collaborated with key partners, including the Ministry of Health and other local organizations, to align responses with national priorities. Additionally, I contributed to grant applications focused on expanding inclusive education and support for students with disabilities across Jordan.

From this opportunity, I gained practical skills in cross-sector collaboration by working closely with government and organizational partners. I developed the ability to identify and analyze service gaps in the health sector, particularly in vulnerable communities. I also strengthened my adaptability and communication skills by navigating a professional workplace in my second language.

I feel so thankful to the CCPD for providing me with the Summer Internship Stipend because without it, it would have been impossible for me to travel back to Jordan and study public health in the country I have so much love for. In addition to working with my incredible coworkers and learning how to work in the public health sector, I had the unique opportunity to practice my Arabic, travel, and make new friends from Jordan. The Summer Internship Stipend is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I encourage all K students who are interested to apply!” – Madeline Hanulcik ’26

Supported by a CCPD summer internship stipend, Abigail Eilertson ’27 spent the summer in Dr. Adil Akkouch’s biomedical engineering lab at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Her work with nanoparticles offered firsthand experience in how research drives medical innovation and confirmed a growing passion for medicine and discovery.

“This summer, I performed biomedical engineering research, under the mentorship of Dr. Adil Akkouch, at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. My research project primarily focused on synthesizing nanoparticles and evaluating their antibacterial properties. My primary role in the project was creating the nanoparticles and conducting experiments using agar disc diffusion and time-kill kinetic assays to assess how varying nanoparticle size and concentration impacted bacterial growth over time. This internship not only helped deepen my understanding of experimental design and data analysis but also solidified my aspiration in becoming a physician-scientist.

While I had previously appreciated the value of research-based treatments, working directly in a biomedical engineering lab has allowed me to understand how innovative therapies are developed from concept to application. As a future physician, I aim to continue research and stay at the forefront of medical advancements to provide the best and most up-to-date care for my patients. Medicine is built upon innovation and the constant need to seek new solutions for old challenges. My time in the biomedical engineering lab has broadened my perspective and helped me recognize persistent issues in our healthcare systems. I have been able to reflect on how existing procedures and treatments could be reimagined in the future to better meet the needs of the patients. My internship would not have been possible without the help of the CCPD. Due to cuts to research, funding is increasingly limited and securing grants is difficult. With the internship stipend, I was able to completely focus on my research without the distraction of financial concerns. Overall, this summer research internship has positively impacted my academic and personal growth by deepening my understanding of biomedical engineering research methods and solidifying my aspirations of becoming a physician-scientist.”

Abigail Eilertson ’27

What happens when you combine field research, Indigenous partnership, and a passion for protecting wildlife? This CCPD stipend-supported internship with the Buffalo Field Campaign shows how one student gained career-defining skills while working to safeguard Yellowstone’s wild bison and educate visitors on their importance. Here is the story in her own words:

“For my summer internship, I worked with Buffalo Field Campaign: A Non-profit focused on protecting the last, wild Bison in and around Yellowstone National Park. With a focus on stopping the harassment and slaughter of Yellowstone Buffalo, BFC emphasizes working with Indigenous nations to honor and protect their sacredness. The protection of their natural habitat helps to restore historic migration patterns. Since Buffalo (Bison bison bison) are a keystone species, their conservation is necessary for the future of surrounding environments. 

During my time at BFC, I had multiple projects and responsibilities. From tabling in Yellowstone to doing wildlife reports, I gained a lot of vital experience in the field of wildlife conservation. Tabling allowed me to interact with tourists through science communication. This involved educational posters illustrating collected data, such as Bison migration patterns in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, and pamphlets with further information. In addition, we had one-on-one conversations to provide further context and answer any questions. Through imputing native species data sets into wildlife reports, I gained skills in field work and mapping software. When I wasn’t tabling, I wrote updates from the field for our supporters, along with imputing data into wildlife reports. This helped me gain skills in field work and mapping software. Lastly, I assisted in performing tasks to keep the cabin running smoothly. 

Overall, I gained important knowledge and experience in my field of study, aligning with my future career goals. As a biology major with a minor in Anthropology & Sociology and a concentration in Environmental Studies, my internship meshed each of my passions together into one common goal. Learning both through the lens of Western science and Indigenous connections allowed me to have an appreciation of the issue at hand. Portraying this through tourist education required me to have a deep, rooted understanding to be able to answer questions. I can’t wait to see what I can do next with this gained experience and knowledge!”

Natalie Ward ’26