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Westminster College Students Gain Internship Experiences through Generous Donations

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Posted on Monday, May 23, 2016

This summer, approximately 100 Westminster College students will gain local, national, or global internship experiences, four of which were awarded sponsorships.

Provided by the Class of ’64 Awards Sponsorship, Vanessa Restifo, sophomore public relations and Spanish major, will travel to Cusco, Peru to intern for South American Explorers Clubhouse, and Jacqueline Schultz, senior media art and design major, will travel to Boston to intern for Lindsay Hill Design.

Ellen DeWeese, senior political science major, will complete an internship at The Erie Art Museum with support from the Fetters Intern Sponsorship Fund. The Suzanne Lilly Internship for Intellectual Disability Fund has provided internship support for Abbigail Rinard, senior psychology major, who will travel to Akron, Ohio to intern with Sandicare.

“It is hour hope that these funds will enable students to have the experience of a lifetime and somehow impact the lives of others along the way,” said Katy DeMedal, director of the Career Center.

Award selections were made based on the following criteria: resume clarity, student essay statement, grades, leadership and classroom experience, extra-curricular activities, references, and internship proposal.

Criteria was evaluated by a DeMedal, Jennifer Hough, assistant director of the career center; Dr. Jess Mann, professor of French and vice president for academic affairs ad dean of the college Emeritus; Dr. Brittany Rowe-Cernevicius, assistant professor of public relations; and Dr. Ann Throckmorton, professor of biology.

The Class of 1964 internship fund was established by members of the Class of 1964 as a gift to the College in honor of their Golden Anniversary Celebration in October 2014. Income from this fund will be used annually to provide competitive funding for students who accept eligible, credit-worthy unpaid internships.

The Mr. and Mrs. Craig Fetters II Intern Sponsorship Fund recognizes that experiential internship opportunities are an essential element in acquiring real world experience and professional skills necessary to be competitive in the job market. It is their hope that it will open doors and create opportunities for Westminster students that may otherwise be unobtainable.

Westminster College, in cooperation with the IM4Q grant coordinator, Dr. Gary Lilly has endowed funds to support internships that benefit the mental health/intellectual disabilities population.

For more information, contact DeMedal at (724) 946-6338.

Photo: Abby Miles and Olivia Martin, 2015 Class of 1964 internship fund​ recipients.

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Information About the Students:

Ellen DeWeese, a senior political science major, is a daughter of Kathleen Hootman and a graduate of Conneaut High School.

Vanessa Restifo, a sophomore public relations and Spanish major, is a daughter of James and Cathy Restifo and a graduate of David Anderson High School.

Abbigail Rinard, a senior psychology major, is a daughter of Gregory and Lisa Rinard and a graduate of Highland High School.

Jacqueline Schultz, a senior media art + design major, is a daughter of John and Christal Schultz and a graduate of Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy.