Now in its third year, the program provided UNC Asheville a $110,000 grant to fund the internships, and is designed to connect interested, talented undergraduate students with local leadership. The students gain meaningful on-the-job experience with local organizations that provide a unique learning opportunity to allow students to give back to his or her community.
Learn more about the SECU Public Fellows and hear about their experiences in their own words:
Ariel Chiagozie Akuneme, an ancient Mediterranean studies major, with a concentration in languages and literature, is an esports ambassador with UNC Asheville Campus Recreation and an active member of Asheville Campus Entertainment.
“I have always been interested in public service and law, which is why I wanted to be a part of the SECU Public Fellowship Internship Program and why I am so excited to work for Pisgah Legal Services,” Akuneme said.
Management major Evan Lewis is a student-athlete with the men’s soccer team. “I decided to be a part of the SECU Public Fellows Internship program because I thought it would be a great opportunity to gain valuable experience and learn more about the nonprofit sector of the world,” Lewis said. “Mountain BizWorks interests me because of all the great work we do to help the community grow, and help entrepreneurs and small businesses get from striving to thriving, which is the ultimate goal of our organization.”
Maggie Martin, a health and wellness promotion major, began her community involvement with two service-learning courses and community partners Beloved Asheville and the Urban Peace Garden in West Asheville.
“I decided to become a part of the SECU Public Fellows Internship program because it provided a way to have a meaningful and useful summer job,” Martin said. “Girl Scouts Peaks to Piedmont interests me because it seemed like a great opportunity to apply some of my skills, such as data entry and organization, while gaining more work experience.”
Emily Hall, a women, gender and sexuality studies major, pursued the SECU Fellowship as a way to actively participate in helping out the community around her. “This program offers an opportunity to gain new perspectives and new experiences by immersing yourself in hands-on service for the betterment of others,” said Hall, who interned with Buncombe County Communities in Schools.
Kennedy Young, a political science major with minors in economics and history, volunteers to Get Out the Vote with the Political Science Club, and has served on the Woodfin Greenway and Blueway Board.
“In 2019, I was the recipient of the SECU People Helping People scholarship that has helped me tremendously to fast track my education by lightening the financial load I carry semester to semester,” Kennedy said. “I felt the fellowship offer was a natural progression of this scholarship; it allows me to apply the knowledge I have learned as well as gain hands-on experience.”
Environmental studies major Kylee Jackson is involved in the Student Environmental Center, the Invasive Plant Club, and Sunshine Movement on campus, and has volunteered with American Conservation Experience, NC Arboretum, Asheville Downtown Association and Asheville City Schools Foundation.
“Through working with the Forest Keeper, I am able to contribute to planning, outreach, and action involving the Pisgah Nantahala National Forest Plan to rally members of our community to oppose a 30-year management plan from the National Forest Service that involves an unsustainable degradation of public land and forests,” Jackson said. “By devoting the summer towards research, writing, outreach, and action, I am able to build skills I can use in my future careers while also contributing to my local community and the environment. The work done by non-profit organizations here in Western North Carolina is crucial in supporting and sustaining the overall well-being of our community.”
Creative writing major Charlie Smith has been engaging in service work and making community connections through Asheville Wesley, an affirming Christian student organization on campus. “Radio has always been something I’ve been interested in, and this opportunity seemed like the perfect opportunity to learn all about it,” said Smith, who interned with Blue Ridge Public Radio.
Economics major Chelsea Bartlett is the president and team captain of the Equestrian Club, and volunteers for Be My Eyes. She’s also a research assistant and classroom course ambassador.
“Through my research and involvement in the Economics Department, I have become focused and passionate about community outreach in Asheville, and the internships provide a unique opportunity to be involved in outreach within our own communities,” said Bartlett, who interned with the Asheville Humane Society.
Aliyah Rao, a pre-med track chemistry major with biology and neuroscience minors, is the program director for the Department of Admission’s Ambassador Program, serves as an organic chemistry tutor, and conducts research in the medicinal chemistry lab.
“Long term, I would like to be affiliated or working within a nonprofit within my professional career. Ultimately, I would like to dedicate my time to a nonprofit like MAHEC,” Rao said. “This site is considered a CCBHC, a certified community behavioral health clinic, which provides services to most underinsured/uninsured patients. This is something that I am very passionate about, and beginning to learn about the available grants and applications will be very beneficial to me and my long term plans.”
Environmental studies major Hope Donnellan is the vice president of ASHE (Active Students for a Healthy Environment). “The SECU internship program interested me because I get the chance to work in a field that would be otherwise difficult to find an internship in,” said Donnellan, who interned with the Buncombe County Sustainability Office. “I’m interested in how the comprehensive plan is developed, what goes on behind the scenes of solar projects around the city, and just in general to learn more about local government.”
Estefany Flores, a health and wellness promotion major with minors in Spanish and arts management and entrepreneurship, transferred to UNC Asheville from A-B Tech.
“This SECU Public Fellows Internship program allowed me the chance to get more experience in my minor of arts management and entrepreneurship,” said Flores, who interned with the Small Business and Technology Development Center. “This has allowed me the opportunity to better understand data management along with business counseling and marketing, and has opened my eyes to what it means to own and operate a small business here in Asheville.”
Matti Kauftheil, a health and wellness promotion major with minors in English and indigenous studies, has worked in UNC Asheville’s Key Center for Community Engagement, volunteered in the student gardens and participated in the Anti-Racist Student Organization. They also completed an internship through the English Department with the WNC LGBTQ+ Oral History Archive, and participated in community work days at the Burton Street Peace Gardens.
“I’m excited to be a part of this internship program to apply my in-classroom learning about public health to a real-world setting,” said Kauftheil, who interned with the Western Carolina Medical Society.
Anthropology major and psychology minor Mick Trexler volunteers at a local food drive and with the Sunrise Project for environmental justice.
“I chose to be part of the SECU Internship program due to my interest in charity and great respect for non-profit organizations such as Bounty & Soul,” Trexler said. “This site gives me the sense that I’m providing a positive impact on the community in Black Mountain while also learning the process of harvesting and preparing food.”
Bea Bradley, an art history major and painting minor, served as a learning and engagement intern at the Asheville Art Museum for her SECU Public Fellowship.
“Not only am I able to study art history and curation in a professional environment alongside qualified historians and curators, but I am also responsible for creating channels of support between non-profit organizations in the Asheville area with the Museum itself,” Bradley said. “I feel very grateful that I was chosen for this internship, as I am confident that it will inform my future career choices and also enrich the bond shared with the community I live in.”
Aleah Martin, an environmental studies major and biology minor, interned with Asheville Greenworks for her SECU Public Fellowship. “I love the organization,” Martin said. “They do amazing things. I’m particularly interested in their initiatives in urban forestry.”
Mass communication major Jane Turlington interned with the Blue Ridge Literacy Council. “If our internship class taught me anything, it's that no matter how much you plan and map your life, something will always change so you need to learn to ride the wave,” Turlington said. “But I know that this experience has solidified the need for community engagement in my life…Even if it's just on a small scale, I would like to continue to hear people's stories, interact with my community, and learn.”
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