May 16, 2006: Volume 67, Number 8

College announces 2006 funded summer internships

Nine Union students will work with non-profit groups this summer in a range of activities, including organizing a summer camp for children who have cancer, promoting human rights activism among young people and helping to spark girls' interest in math and science.

The hands-on internship opportunities, from organizations such as the Law, Order & Justice Center and Haven Grief Counseling, are made possible by $24,800 in funding from the Roger Hull Community Service Summer Internship, Dr. Scholl Foundation and Bank of America.

The students, selected from a competitive field of applicants, include: Todd Buffum '07, Amanda Carpenter '07, Alison Houck '07, Meagan Keenan '09, Michelle Koo '08, Carli McNeil '07, Jon Thatcher '07, Natali Torres '07 and Linda Yamben '07.

"To partake in something like this and get paid to do it is more than I could ever want for a summer experience," said Torres, who will be working with terminally ill patients and their families at Hospice of Schenectady. "Often organizations like Hospice, which serves the elderly and the sick, go unnoticed for their contributions to our society."

"As one student told me, ‘Programs like this are the essence of Union's strength," said Janet H. Mattis, associate director for Experiential Education and a member of the Funded Summer Internship Selection Committee. Other committee members are Director of Residential Life Todd Clark, Associate Professor of Sociology David Cotter and Affirmative Action and Community Outreach Director Gretchel Tyson. Here, a look at the students, their majors and their summer projects:

Roger H. Hull Community Service Summer Internship

Carli McNeil (political science/economics), Law, Order & Justice Center: McNeil will receive training and conduct research on foster care visitations between children and their biological parents; help place teen and adult clients in the center's community service program; and observe mediation processes and the work of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Schenectady.

Dr. Scholl Foundation:

Meagan Keenan (major undecided), Global Youth Connect: Keenan will support ongoing programs, develop fundraising strategies and work on outreach to young people interested in human rights activism.

Jon Thatcher (history), PRIDE of Ticonderoga, Inc.: Thatcher will organize the group's major fundraiser, the LaChute River Duck Race, and help compose grants to support preservation, restoration and community development projects.

Bank of America:

Todd Buffum (sociology), Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp.: Buffum will work closely with city officials, business leaders and area merchants on communications, marketing, database management and research, and on such initiatives as the Co-operative Television Downtown Branding Campaign, the 47^th Annual Stockade Walkabout and Waterfront Faire.

Amanda Carpenter (neuroscience/pre-med), Gilda's Club: Carpenter will organize and operate a summer camp for the Noogieland members, children who have a family member with cancer or have cancer themselves.

Alison Houck (biology), Girl's Inc. Operation SMART: Houck will create and direct the Operation SMART program at Camp Brookledge in Saratoga, providing programs in science, math and technology to young girls.

Michelle Koo (psychology), Schenectady Day Nursery: Koo will work as a classroom aide for preschoolers, helping to run activities, teach computer skills and guide language and motor development activities. She also will tutor the after-school program's 6-12-year-olds in reading and mathematics.

Natali Torres (neuroscience), Hospice of Schenectady : Torres will provide emotional and spiritual support for patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses with a prognosis of six months or less to live. She also will help the Fundraising and Development Committee prepare for two events, the Toast to Spring and the Community Hospice Walk.

Linda Yamben (psychology), Haven Grief Counseling: Yamben will greet and schedule clients, develop skills in providing comfort and support to grieving patients and help plan a charity event.

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