Student Grants
The Winston Center awards a limited number of ad hoc grants to undergraduate students for work related to the Center’s mission.
#BelongInCSOM
The Carroll School of Management is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. CSOM undergraduate students are invited to submit project proposals that promote inclusion and belonging in the Carroll School. Budgets up to $1,500 for initiatives ranging from six months to one year will be considered.
Read here for more details.
Proposals must be submitted by Monday, April 22, to winston.center@bc.edu. Applicants will be notified by Friday, May 10, 2024.
Supplemental awards are available for travel to attend leadership or ethics conferences, perform research work, and complete other relevant endeavors. Service trips sponsored by Campus Ministry and Study Abroad Programs are not eligible.
Seniors are eligible for activities completed by May 1.
Travel grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis until allocated funds are exhausted.
For International Travel: Effective in the 2023-2024 academic year, the International Travel Policy outlines Boston College’s guidelines and requirements for international travel, which is designed to ensure members of the Boston College Community have the resources and support for safe and successful international travel, including guidelines on travel to high-risk destinations, as well as insurance requirements. As part of this policy, Boston College has launched a new travel registry overseen by the Office of Global Engagement. Additional details on the International Travel Registry can be found on the Global Engagement Gateway.
Travel Grant Recipient Testimonials
UN Transforming Education Summit 2022 (New York, NY, USA)
I attended the two-day UN Transforming Education Summit 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. I met world leaders, including the Ministers of Education of Portugal, Ecuador, Colombia, and El Salvador, Jayathma Wickramanayake (the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth), Jeffrey Sachs, and Gordon Brown, among several others. I had the opportunity to attend panels where leaders discussed various solutions to promote Sustainable Development Goal #4: ensure inclusive and equitable quality and education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It was a wonderful experience to meet and connect with other young leaders with whom I discussed ideas to promote quality education in our communities. I also acquired new perspectives that will help me develop a project to improve the education system in Mexico.
Emilia Acevedo Quezada '25
Crafting a Better World: Empowering Women Artisans (Jaipur, India)
We traveled to Jaipur, the capital of India's Rajasthan state, to explore the intersectionality of gender and caste. We are making a documentary that will recount the stories of women who, after receiving aid from the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation ("PDKF"), have persevered through poverty, low education accessibility, and domestic or workplace violence, among other issues predicated on systemic sexism. The PDKF's skill-building initiatives—which entail training in stitching, embroidery, heritage crafts, and soft toy making—aim to revive these women's sense of purpose and help them positively contribute to the national Indian economy through artisanship. Per a recent survey by the PDKF, the annual household income of women participating in these programs increased by over 42 percent, on average. Not only that, but when rising craftswomen start selling their handmade goods and earning their own money, they are imbued with newfound confidence, advocate for themselves more readily, and enjoy a better livelihood. Financial and social empowerment are thus closely intertwined, a central theme we intend to illustrate in our documentary.
Mercedes Hoyos '23, Neha Suneja '23, and Molly Binder '23
Ecuador Water Insecurity Projects and Documentary (Imbabura, Ecuador, South America)
This summer, I lived with the San Clemente Indigenous community on the Imbabura volcano in Ecuador. As this experience was a part of the BC Department of Engineering, my primary responsibilities were to create service projects tackling water insecurity in the community. Specifically, we focused on implementing rainwater collection methods and greywater recycling for crop irrigation during the yearly dry season. I also filmed a documentary about the water insecurity project and the history of the San Clemente Indigenous people.
Cyrus Rosen '25
Disaster Nursing Program (Lausanne, Switzerland)
I went to Lausanne, Switzerland, to learn about being a disaster-prepared nurse this summer. Through the program, I built relationships with students from various parts of the world (China, India, Switzerland, and Lebanon) and learned about their healthcare systems. This exposed me to how nurses influence the healthcare system and their power to make real change. Beyond the classroom, I fully immersed myself in the Swiss culture by traveling throughout Switzerland and learning about its history. This once-in-a-lifetime experience has led me to approach nursing more holistically and globally, facilitating my growth and allowing me to become a well-rounded person and future nurse.
Sierra Sinclair '24
Society for Research on Adolescence Conference (New Orleans, LA, USA)
Last spring, I traveled to New Orleans to present my poster at a psychology conference hosted by the Society for Research on Adolescence. Over three days, I heard talks from Ruby Bridges and other human rights activists, dialogued with researchers worldwide, and presented my research. My research topic focused on the religious and spiritual experiences of transgender people. This experience has transformed my faith, has expanded my passion for marginalized communities, and my desire to pursue research that makes a difference.
Shuai (Eddy) Jiang '22, LSOE '25
Fondation Scelles (Paris, France)
This summer, I worked for the Fondation Scelles—a French NGO dedicated to the fight against sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Daily, I assisted with research, writing support, and French/English translation. Through this experience, I not only gained important language and cultural literacy skills but experienced firsthand what it's like to work on the front lines of a pressing global issue. I am proud that I dedicated my summer to such a meaningful cause.
Sophie Holtgen '23
diiVe (Cape Town, South Africa)
This summer, I joined diiVe in Cape Town, South Africa, for their Consulting Internship Program. I was placed on a project where my team’s task was to size and analyze the markets of six African countries to consult the oral healthcare company, TheraBreath, on which country would be the most feasible and lucrative to expand their products into. My role on the team was as a client manager, meaning that my areas of responsibility included being the primary contact for our client, taking meeting minutes, and other communication tasks.
Alicia Spry '24
2022 Annual Public Health Conference (Wisconsin Dells, WI, USA)
Last spring I attended the 2022 Annual Public Health Conference, “Reground, Rebuild, & Reunite: We are Public Health.” This conference was the culmination of my work as a research assistant for the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health over the past year on a project titled “Increasing Cervical Cancer Awareness Through Community-Based Approaches.” Our poster and abstract were featured in the conference, which brings together public health officials from across the state responsible for shaping local health policies and developing educational resources for the community. Attending this conference allowed me to learn from and network with public health experts currently working to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and develop strategic plans for reducing health disparities within the community.
Molly Wilde '23
Stipends are available during the summer for uncompensated part-time or full-time internships in local, state, or federal government, public interest groups, non-governmental organizations, advocacy work, direct service, research, and education. Graduating seniors are not eligible.
Applications will be accepted between March 18 and May 6, 2024.
Decisions will be sent by May 13.
For questions regarding the grant application process, please contact Monetta Edwards.
Summer Stipend Recipient Testimonials
Harvard Laboratory for Development Studies
This summer, I worked as a research assistant in Harvard’s Department of Psychology in the Lab for Developmental Studies. I worked under Dr. Elizabeth Spelke and a graduate mentor with whom I ran trials on a study about numeracy and language acquisition in children. My primary duties included recruiting participants, conducting trials and collecting quantitative data, coding and analyzing data, and aiding in new study designs. I also had the opportunity to present an academic poster with my findings from this study and participated in weekly journal clubs to learn the classic and current literature of the field. This internship also gave me the chance to network with Harvard professors and postdocs and engage in professional development panels. Throughout the summer, my excitement and passion for developmental psychology grew tremendously. This experience was formative for my child and maternal health research career path.
Chloe Don '24
Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum
This summer I spent my time at the Royall House and Slave Quarters, guiding tours, learning about museum work, and participating in the Reclaiming Our Hands program. On weekends I would guide public tours with a wide range of audiences. I also had the opportunity to provide private tours to groups like historical societies and even a Harvard architecture class. Outside of these, I learned about the technicalities behind museum work, managing museum collections, and restoring historical sites. Finally, the most transformative part of my experience was participating in the Reclaiming Our Hands program with Stephen Hamilton and Kyera Singleton. This program intended to teach black youth from the Boston area about the different textile arts and crafts originating from various parts of Africa, which were taken to America during the slave trade. I participated in teaching these youth topics surrounding slavery, exploitation, and overall valuable skills that offered them a connection to their roots.
Hannah Edwards '26
Divisible (Film)
Over the summer, I served as the Social Media Manager and Copywriting Intern for Divisible—a documentary film about redlining. One of my primary responsibilities was effectively creating and distributing related social media content across various platforms. To do so, I first had to research and deeply understand the origins of redlining and how it continues to impact millions of lives today. My knowledge of redlining and its ongoing and disproportionate effects grew, and I also developed valuable skills that will be fundamental to the rest of my career. With this experience, I have become incredibly passionate about this issue, and I plan to continue advocating for it by growing awareness through education on the topic. After seeing how our film resonated with individuals and communities alike, I am incredibly excited to see the future impact Divisible will make.
Audrey Frigon '24
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
This summer, I was a Preliminary Hearings Unit Intern with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. My primary duties included analyzing police data and arrest reports for inconsistencies, establishing a defendant’s background, and drafting and sending out appearance subpoenas to the lead officer or detective on a given case. Additionally, I was selected by my supervisor to assist the prosecutor’s office in a remanded first-degree murder jury trial. I spent weeks preparing for this trial, producing evidence exhibits, analyzing the jury during the voir dire process, and advising the first-chair attorney to strike from the jury box and read into the original transcript of a deceased witness. This was my second summer with the State’s Attorney’s Office, and my heightened responsibilities helped to develop my understanding of the multi-faceted litigation side of the criminal justice system. I am grateful for this experience and the opportunity to understand the unique relationship between every crime, defendant, and victim presented.
Annabel Halloran '25
Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super Fab Lab
I spent my summer interning at the Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck Super Fab Lab in Thimphu, Bhutan. Founded in June of 2022, the JNWSFL makerspace was created to meet the community’s digital design and fabrication needs. My job was to assist in the operation of the FAB23 conference, which brings together hundreds of designers, engineers, and business professionals concerned with the future of makerspaces. I oversaw the laser cutting of over 700 name tags for attendees, screen-printed t-shirts and planned and operated the intern screen printing booth aimed at youth conference participants. I received insight into the behind-the-scenes work required for an event of this magnitude, led various initiatives amongst my intern team, and learned the detailed project management process. Finally, I received a firsthand look into the work being done by Bhutanese people at all levels to use makerspaces to solve the country’s pressing issues.
Margaret Hynes '25
US-Asia Institute
I interned at the US-Asia Institute in Capitol Hill this summer, working primarily with the institute’s Rule of Law (ROL) Exchange Program
between American and Chinese law students. As a program assistant for the ROL program, I researched hundreds of government officials, lawyers, diplomats, and other relevant professionals in the DC area. After curating a list of professionals, I organized meetings for the students to speak with these professionals directly at their respective offices. Once the law students arrived, we spent a month attending around five daily meetings with experts. We spoke about important topics like the
implementation of the Rule of Law, US-China relations, government structure in the US vis-à-vis China, and how to build an equitable judicial system. Outside this program, I planned receptions and cultural events, organized various Congressional 101 series, and composed the twice-weekly newsletter sent to over 3,000 congressional staffers.
Julia Lovas '25
The Borgen Project
This summer, I interned in the Political Affairs department of The Borgen Project—a non-profit entity that fights global poverty. As an intern under the direction of UK Senior Program Manager Kelly Hall, I created and implemented a fundraising campaign, corresponded with my local MP about changes in legislation, attended networking events, and worked to create awareness and support for the cause in various ways. Specifically, the legislation I worked to pass was the Official Development Assistance Act, which would increase the UK’s foreign spending. This position gave me first-hand experience in lobbying for a cause and the inner functions of a larger NGO. It also expanded my knowledge of foreign policy, humanitarian aid, and global poverty. In the future, I aim to work in the humanitarian field concerning law and politics.
Alice Moyle '24
Healthcare-NOW
This summer, I interned at Healthcare-NOW, a national non-profit organization in Boston that advocates for Medicare for All and healthcare reform. In my role, I worked on multiple projects that exposed me to various healthcare policy issues and expanded my knowledge of the inner workings of the U.S. healthcare system. My projects included editing and adding relevant information to the organization’s website, creating and editing scripts for short Medicare for All educational videos, and assisting with fundraising initiatives. I also had the opportunity to research Medicare for All co-sponsorship trends within the House of Representatives. This internship enabled me to meet activist leaders in healthcare reform, learn about the inter-workings of a grassroots organization, and develop my soft and interpersonal skills in a workplace environment.
Noah Shabahang '24
Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
My summer was spent working as a Pediatric Epilepsy Research Intern at the Loddenkemper Lab with Boston Children’s Hospital, which investigates advanced pediatric seizure tracking and warning systems. In this role, I collected data by reviewing medical charts and records, optimized databases, and supported research coordinators by helping them enroll patients in research studies. I was also given the opportunity to shadow a pediatric neurologist during clinic visits as well as to present regularly in lab meetings, helping solve any issues we encountered during the week. Additionally, I participated in our journal club by creating a presentation about a relevant scientific journal article concerning a new type of multi-modal seizure tracking device. Through this experience, I learned in-depth about epilepsy, gained a greater understanding of how the clinical research process works, and improved my critical thinking and data analysis skills. I look forward to utilizing these skills on my journey towards becoming a physician.
Maiya Whalen '24
Community Harvest Project
I participated in Community Harvest Project’s (CHP) 2022 Summer Farm Internship program. As an intern, under the direction of the Head Farmer, Dave Johnson, I participated in CHP farm operations and operated farm equipment, including John Deere “Gators,” weed whackers, and industrial lawn mowers. I also worked with volunteers daily, participated in non-profit information sessions conducted by the CHP’s full-time staff, and toured the facilities of the Boston Area Gleaners (a hunger relief gleaning and farming operation). My internship experience at the farm gave me a greater knowledge and understanding of food insecurity and local/national hunger relief efforts. I was fortunate to have also found a strong network of friends and mentors in my fellow farm staff members who challenged me to take accountability when thinking about my own role in ending food insecurity and discussing this crisis. The biggest lesson I learned at CHP is the importance of a strong commitment to human dignity. I aspire to work in international human rights advocacy and genocide prevention, and the farm’s commitment to dignity is especially important to success in this field of work.
Christopher Carreras '25
US Department of State
This past summer, I served as an intern to the US Department of State’s Public Diplomacy (PD) team, working at Embassy Sofia in Bulgaria. This role exposed me to various tasks and developed a deeper understanding of the various facets of work that PD teams work on at the State Department. The tasks ranged from creating and distributing social media content for a foreign audience, conducting policy research, editing briefing papers for the ambassador to Bulgaria, participating in public outreach events with Bulgarian students, and assisting in various administrative tasks. This position, with an in-country team, gave me a view into how an embassy functions and the different priorities that arise from working in-country. I expanded my understanding of the State Department and explored a country and culture that I had only previously understood from an academic perspective. This grant allowed me to develop my classroom skills into skills I now use in relevant contexts. It also allowed me to fully experience the career field I intend to pursue post-graduation from Boston College.
Katarina Hone '23
US Department of Commerce
This summer, I worked as an international trade intern with the Foreign Commercial Service at the U.S. embassy in Paris, France. I worked with the local French staff to advise American businesses on entering the French marketplace. We helped these businesses by connecting them with French consortiums, educating them on the market, and attending trade shows. One of the largest projects I worked on was creating a market brief and guide on the French Smart Mobility market to provide U.S. companies with a complete overview of the emerging market and market entrance strategies. I worked on company promotion events to increase company visibility in the French market. I was involved in trade show events, such as Eurosatory, where we provided companies with the opportunity to work with the FCS to expand into the French market. In this position, I worked as a liaison between the French and American job markets, gaining insight into domestic and international policy. I had the opportunity to learn from government leaders and officials. Through my internship, I served the U.S. by positively impacting job creation and business relations at home and abroad. I strived to fulfill the mission of The Winston Center for leadership and Ethics by being an ambassador for the United States.
Katherine Hughes '24
International Institute of New England
This summer, I worked as a community resettlement intern with the International Institute of New England (IINE). In my position, I assisted the trafficking victims' assistance program (TVAP). This population is made up of immigrants who have experienced some form of trafficking (sexual, labor) and are currently in the process of obtaining legal status.TVAP currently serves approximately 47 clients, so I conducted needs assessment calls in Spanish, prepared gift cards to be sent out, and organized electronic client files. In addition, I also observed Ukrainian client intakes and interviews for the Central American Minors Refugee and Parole program. My experience solidified my desire to work in the resettlement space. Being a small support in the process of helping migrants was impactful. I saw firsthand the effects of the ethical code that drives migration policy and how nonprofits work to advocate.
Isabelle Jones '23
Massachusetts Trial Court
I worked with the Massachusetts Trial Court in the Lawrence Court Service Center division this summer. As an intern, I assisted my supervisors in aiding court users and addressing their different needs. This included helping people fill out legal documents and gaining familiarity with the steps involved in filing for divorce, small claims, housing issues, and much more. Through this role, I presented court users with the possible options they could take in their case and provided options to receive legal advice. This is an important distinction we always made to inform court users we were not their personal attorneys and could help any side of a party asking for help. This experience allowed me to learn about the different legal channels that are available and legal proceedings in the District, Housing, and Probate & Family courts. system.
Serena Meyers '23
Boston College Innocence Program
This summer, I served as an undergraduate intern at the Boston College Innocence Program (BCIP) through the Boston College law school. I assisted attorneys in their efforts to approach true justice in representing individuals wrongly convicted in Massachusetts for crimes they did not commit. More specifically, I analyzed legal documentation and digested the information present in the cases. My efforts helped the attorneys quickly read through and understand what gaps in evidence and research existed when the case was originally tried. Additionally, I created visual documents that may be used as evidence in court during future trials. The opportunity to serve as an intern for BCIP opened my eyes to the injustices in our criminal justice system. This reinforced the idea of how vital reformation and advocacy are necessary to reinstate the livelihoods of so many people convicted for crimes they did not commit. In the future, I hope to use the skills I developed throughout this experience to enter the law field and continue to challenge the injustices surrounding the criminal justice system in the United States.
Mikayla Sanchez '23
Boston College Innocence Program
This summer, I worked as an undergraduate intern at the Boston College Innocence Program (BCIP) on investigative reports concerning prospective clients. My work at BCIP gave me a comprehensive introduction to criminal defense and post-conviction relief by summarizing trial transcripts, digesting court proceedings, and reading legal filings. Working on two investigative reports for two prospective BCIP clients, I dissected case files while compiling lists of evidence, witnesses, law enforcement officials, attorneys, judges, and various other legal professionals to gain insight into BCIP's prospective clients. Through the internship, I could attend multiple legal hearings for BCIP clients at the Suffolk Superior Court and participated in oral debriefs of the hearings with BCIP attorneys. The court appearances and oral debriefs allowed me to pick the brains of practicing attorneys and gain valuable insights concerning overall legal strategy and situational maneuvering, lessons I will carry with me as I begin my legal career. Spending my summer immersed in investigating two different innocence claims allowed me to better understand the legal system and energized me to pursue a career in law.
Eric Shea '23
Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum
My summer at the Royall House and Slave Quarters was spent revamping the museum’s social media. That meant designing and posting event flyers for events, celebrations, and collaborations with other local museums. Making these posts required me to seek out and sometimes attend local events for Juneteenth and the Fourth of July to shine a light on the other non-profit and community organizations striving to inform others about how the concepts of wealth and bondage have fueled the ongoing Black American fight for freedom and independence. In addition to promoting these events on the Instagram story, I was also responsible for making posts explaining the history of those holidays in context for the Instagram feed. I also gave tours and developed a plan to make the information on the museum’s website both shareable and digestible for potential visitors looking for what to expect when they come.
Jayla Stallings '23
Oregon Desert Land Trust
This summer, I interned for the Oregon Desert Land Trust, a non-profit environmental organization aiming to conserve Oregon’s wild and working lands. I assisted the team with various conservation projects, including developing a climate adaptation plan for the Land Trust’s recently purchased Trout Creek Ranch—one of Oregon's most significant conservation projects. I also met with local ranchers, wildlife biologists, and environmental engineers to strategize a wet meadows management plan. Under the supervision of the Deputy Director, I traced homestead patents for hundreds of parcels of land and researched the process of extinguishing dormant mineral rights. Furthermore, I worked with the Outreach Coordinator on website improvements, data entry, and writing the monthly Newsletter. Working with the Oregon Desert Land Trust introduced me to the exhaustive efforts required to cultivate a non-profit organization that keeps sight of its mission. Although the Land Trust is relatively new (founded in 2017), it has made enormous strides, conserving over 20,000 acres of land and protecting threatened wildlife like the Sage Grouse.
Jack Strang '25
Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum
At the Royall House and Slave Quarters Museum, I learned a lot about Boston's role in the slave trade and the lives of both the enslaved and the enslavers. For my internship, I gave tours to museum visitors and taught them about the Royall family and how the enslaved people interacted with the house and the environment. I also took on an archives project documenting all enslaved people in Medford up to 1850. This involved me reviewing the town's vital and military records and cataloging the results. At the end of the project, I found about 40-60 previously undocumented enslaved people.
Maya Thompson '23
Cook County State's Attorney's Office
This summer, I interned as a law clerk at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Illinois. I worked under two assistant state attorneys in the felony trial division, where I was stationed in both the court and office. My daily duties included drafting legal motions, observing in-court proceedings, preparing case files, tendering discovery, and assisting the attorneys with office tasks. Working alongside other clerks and with the guidance of the attorneys in the office, I analyzed evidence to build cases, negotiated with defendants and victims, and assisted in the formation of legal arguments based on case law. I was also granted access to the judges’ chambers, where I routinely listened to discussions between judges (where I was frequently asked for my opinion and active participation), prosecutors, and defense attorneys. I learned a tremendous amount about the Cook County criminal justice system's function, societal needs, and the disparities I was unaware of. I observed attorneys apply prosecutorial discretion to uphold ethical and moral judgments in their cases, upholding the law while valuing rehabilitation, fairness, and equality. This experience has further motivated me to pursue a career in public interest law.
Nick Yustin '24
City of Miami Beach
This summer, I worked for the City of Miami Beach as a Resilience Intern under Chief Resilience Officer Amy Knowles. Daily, I assisted the CRO on projects related to Flood Awareness as well as other climate-related issues. Together, we strategized and put thought into the best ways to communicate flood risk to the residents of Miami Beach. Some of my tasks included updating fact sheets and messaging surrounding FEMA's NFIP, Flood Maps, and new flood insurance rating methodology (Risk Rating 2.0). Along with this, I also worked hand-in-hand with the City's Communications and Marketing team, collaborating on a spread for the Miami Beach Magazine related to these crucial issues.
Amidst all this, the tragic Surfside Building collapse happened during my time with the City. While the culprit for this horrific tragedy has yet to be fully discerned, I worked directly with the CRO to conduct research and monitor current buildings older than 30 years on the island, ensuring that Miami Beach residents are safe and protected in the face of rising seas. Without the support of the Winston Center, this would have never been possible, and for that, I amtruly grateful.
Diana Bunge '22
Ocean State Waves
This summer, I served several different roles as an intern with the Ocean State Waves: a summer collegiate baseball team competing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). My role was summed as the Director of Hospitality. Still, I was involved in basically every activity the team participated in. I secured funding for the team’s operations in the preseason, gameday operations, sponsorship activation both before, during, and after games, and much more. In keeping with the Winston Center’s mission of supporting internships with non-profit organizations, both the NECBL and the Ocean State Waves have a goal of being active in the many communities they call home. For the Waves that is Rhode Island’s South County, and this Summer, one of my duties is community outreach. So, I was in charge of reaching out to local minor leagues for free admission to the games and participation in on-field games with our sponsors, our partnership with frontline workers to allow them free admission, our annual summer camp for kids in the local area, and reading days with kids in South County’s many elementary schools. Further, while completing my duties with the Waves, I also served as acting President of Spread the Swell this summer—a non-profit organization that I co-founded with my two older brothers ten years ago. Each year, we run a week-long entirely free surf camp for underprivileged children in Rhode Island. My duties encompass everything leading up to, during, and after camp’s end.
Jack Dillon '23
International Conservation Caucus Foundation
This summer, while interning for the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF), I supported the team with research and analysis work, event outreach, and in-person event assistance. I conducted research on NOFOs, the 5 C’s of the Caribbean Climate Change Center, the intersection of irregular migration conflict and conservation, the NDC implementation plans throughout the Caribbean, blue bonds, the sustainability of French companies, and sustainable forestry. I also worked on event outreach, contacting foreign dignitaries and US lawmakers about our July 13th Summit on Illegal Resource Extraction and our upcoming US Congressional Awards Dinner on September 20th. I also had the opportunity to work at several events hosted by the ICCF, including the Summit on Illegal Resource Extraction and lunch for a delegation of Colombian officials. I also worked on some smaller projects that included updating the calendar with Congressional Committee hearings of interest, editing the ICCF Newsletter, attending and taking notes on key webinars, searching for grant opportunities, cross-referencing datasheets, creating donor/contact spreadsheets, and more. I worked on a wide variety of tasks at ICCF, and I learned a lot about conservation and the inner workings of NGOs/non-profits. I had the incredible opportunity to participate in career formation and network with people I will hopefully work with in the future.
Going forward, I hope to return to the ICCF to help out at the September 20th event, use my new research skills at school and in my future career, and stay in touch with the people I met as I begin my job search. I’ve also learned a lot about conservation and working/cooperating with domestic and international governments. I hope to use these skills, in particular, to pursue an internship with the state department next summer.
Sophie Hoeltgen '24
Boston College Innocence Program
I have continuously looked for ways to engage in the realm of research. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant, I was formally trained to conduct research effectively from credible databases and document sources. All of the skills mentioned above proved very important in my internship at Boston College Innocence Program. Boston College Innocence Clinic focuses on cases involving complex factual investigation to prove the innocence of wrongfully convicted individuals. As an intern, I was assigned a criminal case to study the problem of erroneous convictions. I worked through several databases and more than a hundred files to find relevant data which might prove helpful in overturning the court's decision. Thus, as part of my case, I combed through the court proceeding and files of young black men who were sentenced to life in prison without even having close contact with the murder weapon.Part of my job was to work my way through all the evidence from the defense and the prosecution side to plan and conduct factual investigations, including witness interviews, working with scientific experts, forensic witnesses, and crime labs. Through conducting research, organizing data, and digging up evidence, I have witnessed the power of my simple acts, which may change the entire life trajectory for an innocent person. Through these experiences, I savored the taste of advocacy through human experience, hard work, and the power of law. As an aspiring human rights lawyer, engaging in intersectional research for my clients with a non-profit organization such as BCIP was a genuine opportunity that could not have possibly been substituted for theoretical learning. I am forever grateful to the Winston center for affording me the financial means to engage in this internship and be a part of such a rewarding work experience this summer.
Urwa Hameed '22
SEC's Division of Corporate Finance
This past summer, I worked in the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance. Within the division, I was a part of the Office of Risk and Strategy. The two projects I worked on this summer revolved around Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPACs, and the filing of Form S-3. In April, the SEC recently issued updated accounting guidelines regarding how SPACs should account for stock warrants. I noticed that because the changes occurred so close to the deadlines, we suspected many late filings happened due to the April 12th statement regarding warrants. Therefore, I had to track how many late filings occurred with the SEC. My other main project was helping the division automate review functions for form S-3. I was given a population of almost 200 S-3 forms from Q4 2020. I was tasked with putting all the necessary information for a review into an excel spreadsheet. Another intern would then take this spreadsheet to double-check her code and make sure that the code would scrape the correct information.
Tim Lane '23
Boston College Innocence Program
Altogether my work with the Boston College Innocence Program taught me more than I could have possibly imagined. I was introduced to legal proceedings and the processing of innocence cases, how to write memos and investigative reports, and exposed to the legal language I had not yet encountered. Despite being a virtual internship, I was welcomed into a professional work environment. I experienced “hands-on” work and was even able to meet with a possible client.
This summer, I spent a lot of time learning how to approach the intake process for a potential client. This exposed me to important research skills when learning about a case and its history and encouraged me to learn more about different terms and appellate processes that I was unfamiliar with. I was able to write various intake memos that I submitted for review. Beyond this, I worked closely with the other interns on digesting transcripts and working on an investigative report. Collaborating with other interns virtually helped to understand the material and discuss the various ways in which people approach cases. The internship required a level of analytical capacity, communication, and immense accountability, all of which have helped me become a better-rounded intern and individual, personally and professionally.
BCIP awarded me an opportunity to learn more about a field that I am incredibly interested in pursuing while entrusting me with work that law students and even some of the legal professionals are tasked with doing. As I continue with this internship into the school year, I hope to learn more about how I can help those wrongfully incarcerated and provide services to others jailed in an institution with so many systemic issues.
Jennifer Lozano '23
Our Children MN
During my twelve weeks working with Our Children MN, the 501(c)(4) organization working to pass the Page Amendment, a proposed amendment to the Minnesota State Constitution currently in a legislative committee, I aided their coalition-building, communication, and fundraising efforts. The Page Amendment is trying to establish a civil right to quality education in Minnesota to narrow and eventually close our worst-in-the-nation education gaps by race and ethnicity. Before the next legislative session starts in January, Our Children needs to grow its statewide coalition of partners and supporters, both in terms of individuals and organizations. Some of my initiatives in this area included reaching out to every Chamber of Commerce in the state to schedule events and reaching out to other affinity groups. I also drove statewide awareness by writing four opinion editorials across the state, drafting content and posting on our social media accounts each week, and curating our newsletter. My third main area of focus was writing grant proposals to acquire much-needed funding. My first grant proposal led to $50,000 in funding being awarded to Our Children, and other proposals are still being processed. More broadly, I developed a strong understanding of education politics in Minnesota and the hurdles nonprofits face. My confidence in talking to older professionals grew exponentially since I frequently worked with tenured members of prestigious organizations like the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
Anna Lonnquist '23
SSC Venture Partners
When I first applied for a role at SSC Venture Partners, they rejected my application. However, through persistence, I created a new position at the company called Community Leadership Intern. In this role, I spoke with alumni of Boston College to mentor current students who were starting their own companies. This role quickly morphed into me creating a database of 1500+ Boston College alumni who had founded a company. This summer, in a part-time setting, I was able to take on another student to help me. This allowed me to mentor that student while also practicing my leadership skills since I was delegating tasks. Towards the end of the summer, I continued with these initiatives to create a "State of Boston College Entrepreneurship 2021" summary to share with the entire community. My summer at SSC was inspiring, and I'm looking forward to continuing my role in a new setting this semester! I was mentored by Duncan Walker and the team at SSC, and I could not have asked to spend my summer with better people.
Bijoy Shah '22
Silicon Street Academy
I believe strongly in the impact that mentoring can have on a student’s life. Silicon Street Academy aims to provide college students with in-person mentoring, educational podcasts, and networking opportunities in niche areas such as VC, PE, and Growth Equity. These opportunities have not been traditionally available to students at the undergraduate level. Despite the emphasis schools like Boston College put on personal and career development, there is a lack of assistance for students looking to pursue nontraditional business paths. As a part of the team, I hope to make these avenues more known and accessible by providing a platform and place to connect with experienced business people from diverse backgrounds. Throughout the summer, I will be working to shape Silicon Street’s mission towards an emphasis on collaborative growth, which aligns with the Winston Center’s goal of creating ethical leaders in their own right. By traveling to various schools and areas, we will be building our network of mentors and ambassadors and driving our goal of helping students find passion in work and leadership opportunities. By expanding the array of opportunities for college students, they can more easily align their interests and passions with a societal need to make a difference. Through this experience, I plan to develop my leadership skills to cultivate a like-minded national community of young aspiring undergraduate businesspeople.
Chris Whipple '22
Lionheart Foundation
This summer, I worked virtually as an Outreach Intern with the Lionheart Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on changing the lives of individuals experiencing incarceration, at-risk youth, and teen parents through social-emotional learning programs. On a broad level, my job involved developing and executing projects relating to the Foundation’s long-term goal of expanding its outreach initiatives. More specifically, I created non-profit-specific social media strategies to help the Foundation better understand the social platforms with which they interact to achieve their goal of expanding their presence and following. The bulk of my work consisted of researching social media strategy, writing blogs, developing posts, writing guides, researching language, and working on HubSpot. I found my work to lie at the perfect intersection of my academic interests and professional skills while still challenging me to expand my knowledge. The majority of my professional career has revolved around social media and web management. However, this work had never been on behalf of a non-profit organization such as the Lionheart Foundation. Going into this internship, I did not know how different social media management was for a non-profit. Learning how to adapt my strategies to a completely different circumstance was occasionally challenging, though always rewarding. Given my long-term goals of working in a sector so saturated with non-profit organizations, I am confident that this new understanding of non-profit-specific social media and website strategy will make me a valuable asset in my industry.
Sasha Wong '24