The Spring 2021 Internship Fund The Sullivan Career and Life Planning Center
Thanks to the Sullivan Career and Life Planning Center (SCLP) and 18 generous donors, the Internship Fund has provided application-based funding to 5 Bay Path University undergraduate students that completed unpaid internships in the summer and fall of 2020, in addition to one student receiving grant funding from the Charles H. Hall fund for their unpaid internship. Each student worked tirelessly anywhere from 120 to 240 hours to earn 3 or 6 credits towards their degree. For many, this was their first experience working in their chosen field and their first time in a remote work setting.
We applaud each student for dedicating their time to their internships on top of their coursework and many other positions they hold. The Internship Fund would not be possible without our incredibly kind donors, who believe in SCLP's mission to uplift students in this amazing step in their career journey. Each semester, this fund provides financial support to a group of students through an application process. There are not enough words to thank these donors for their investment in students' futures and all that they contribute to the Bay Path community.
Internship Fund Recipients
Cindy Brandon
Legal Studies Major
Springfield District Court
Emily Clare Egersheim
Child Psychology Major
Special Education Client
Samantha Lsi
Biotechnology Major
Rhode Island Analytical
Haylie Ann Prucker
Medical Science Major
Stafford Ambulance
Allison Zaczynski
Professional Writing Major
Springfield Museums
Charles Hall Grant Recipient
The Charles Hall Grant is awarded each semester to a student that interns with a local non-profit.
Morgan Harris
Health Science Major
Square One
Internship Fund Donors
Andrea Hill-Cataldo
Anne C. Fitzgerald '65
Deborah E. Schreier '71
Erin Hornyak
Dean and Eunice K. Kavanagh '42
George C. Keady
Gladys B. Sullivan
Janit P. Romayko
Jonathan & Melissa Besse
Peter & Kasia Novak
Kate Low '70
Kathleen S. Cotnoir
Louise A. Kursmark '76
Marilyn L. Walter '63
Natalie E. Jurkovics '55
Thea E. Katsounakis '70
Tina Malley '96
Trudy A. Pierce G'15
Interviews with Internship Fund Recipients
Haylie Prucker
Haylie Prucker's internship was with Stafford Ambulance in Stafford, CT. Haylie shared some of her experience in her science courses and how they benefited her internship experience.
How did the Bay Path curriculum help you succeed in your internship?
My undergraduate degree while attending Bay Path was Medical Science with a focus in Pre-PA. Because of this, I was required to take Anatomy 1&2, Pathology, and introduction to Human Disease. In each of these courses, I learned about different medical conditions and the anatomy of the human body. This was extremely helpful during my internship as an EMT as I had prior knowledge of various medical conditions and a great grasp of human anatomy.
How did your internship impact your future career path?
My internship was impactful to my future career as it allowed me to practice in a variety of different medical specialties. I was fortunate enough to see cardiac, trauma, gastro, and neurology emergencies which helped me determine the fields of medicine that I enjoy most and will want to practice as a PA.
How grateful are you to the Bay Path donors for making this fund possible?
I am extremely grateful for the Bay Path donors who made this fund possible. I am beginning PA school in June and this money will help me to be able to buy the necessary medical equipment and textbooks. COVID has created a lot of financial hardship for me, so to be the recipient of the Internship fund was a blessing that I am very appreciative of.
Allison Zaczynski
Allison Zaczynski was a public relations intern at the Springfield Museums. Allison shared how grateful she is to receive the fund and how her Bay Path courses prepared her for the experience.
How did the Bay Path curriculum, WEL310 or other courses, help you succeed in your internship?
WEL310 helped me to tailor my resume for the particular position that I am applying for. I also benefited from all of the communications courses that I took because a lot of the position was event planning as well as research and writing.
How did your internship impact your future career path?
My internship taught me the value in telling other people’s stories. Researching, fact-checking, and editing the panels in the Voices of Resilience exhibit was incredibly rewarding and I will utilize those skills going forward.
What is one takeaway from this experience that you will apply to your future professional positions?
The importance of networking and working as a team. I saw how many people it took to make magic happen at the museum. I’d love to work on collaborative endeavors in the future.
How grateful are you to the Bay Path donors for making this fund possible?
I am so incredibly grateful to the donors for their generosity. Especially through this pandemic, your support of students is appreciated.
Cindy Brandon
Cindy Brandon’s internship was at The Springfield District Court. Cindy shared some of her experiences in the WELL classes and important pieces from her internship below.
First, what were some of the benefits of the WELL courses that helped you work towards your internship?
The WELL courses were very helpful to me as I had been out of the workforce for quite some time due to attending school, a work injury, and then a reconfiguring of my career goals. Being able to create a working resume, a LinkedIn profile, and some of the letter writing assignments we were given to help with securing a job was immensely helpful. Also, being able to have the volunteer experience that I had at the Kelly School in Holyoke, definitely helped me to gain some new and valuable experiences that would help me in any career going forward. Without the assistance with my resume and the experience working with the girls at the Kelly School, I don't think I would have been remotely interested in applying for the internship at the Court Service Center.
If any, what parts of your career path did your internship clarify for you?
My internship was incredibly helpful in letting me see some of the things that people go through when having to access the courts, the court webpages, or court services in general. Honestly, none of it is very user-friendly to begin with, but add in a pandemic and it was even more impossible to get done what a litigant would need to do on their own. I was happy to have had the experience in helping those that had no idea how to navigate the complicated court system made even more complicated by the pandemic and the court closure. It was an experience that most will never get. I learned the value of empathy and how important it is for everyone to have access to basic needs.
What was the biggest takeaway from your internship that you'll use in your future career?
I have become way more understanding of other people's circumstances. Before my internship, I never realized how tough it is for some people to access the internet, or for those without transportation to make it to a hearing on time, etc. I have become much more aware of these things and find myself being helpful in ways that I had never considered before. I am hoping at some point to look into some volunteer work in the court system. I don't know where my career will take me, but if it does involve any legal work, I definitely will offer my time to help those in need. It's amazing how many people are involved in one way or another with the court. Whether it's with DCF, the housing court, a parking/speeding ticket, or probate and family cases, there is so much help needed. I hope that others will get the opportunity to be a part of the Court Service Center. The only thing that could have made it better was for it to have been in person.
This article is also featured in the April 2021 issue of the Network News Student Magazine.