Many college students would like to make a difference in the world through volunteering but need a job or paid internship to cover living expenses. Four UT students have sidestepped this problem, thanks to a program called Impact Internships.
The Impact Internship is a small scholarship program offered through UT’s Center for Career Development. The scholarships provide funding to help students make financial ends meet while working in an unpaid or low-stipend internship that provides valuable professional experience.
The four recipients of this year’s Impact Internships are:
- Lucy Greer – A junior from Knoxville majoring in political science with a concentration in international affairs, she is interning at the National Council on US-Arab Relations and the Middle East Policy Council in Washington, DC. Founded in 1983, the National Council is an American nonprofit, nongovernmental educational organization dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world.
- Chelsea Belcher – A senior from Knoxville majoring in environmental soil science with a concentration in conservation agriculture and environmental sustainability, she is interning at Beardsley Community Farm in Knoxville. Beardsley Community Farm is an urban nonprofit community farm that promotes food security and sustainable agriculture.
- Courtney McCall – A graduate student from Bristol, Tennessee, pursuing a master’s degree in business analytics, she is interning in the health and wellness department at Kimberly-Clark in Knoxville. Kimberly-Clark is an American personal care corporation and home to some of the world’s most recognized brands, including Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Depend, and Kotex.
- Austin Merical – A senior from Farragut, Tennessee, majoring in wildlife and fisheries management, he is interning at the Urban Caracal Project in Cape Town, South Africa. The project aims to understand the conservation challenges that caracal, a type of wild cat, and other wildlife face in a country where there is a delicate balance between social issues and biodiversity conservation.
Students applying for Impact Internship funding must complete short essay questions, submit a resume, and verify their employment. Highest consideration is given to students completing internships that create value, original ideas, and ethical leadership through economic, social, and environmental development in local and global communities.
For more information, e-mail Mary Beth Browder.
—
CONTACT:
Amy Blakely (865-974-5034, ablakely@utk.edu)