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Graham Sustainability Scholars Leverage Summer Opportunities

Graham Sustainability Scholars Leverage Summer Opportunities

This is a banner year for Graham Sustainability Scholars participating in the program’s summer internship. Despite working a hybrid schedule—juggling limited in-person engagement with remote work--undergraduate interns are acquiring high-demand skills through their summer experiences with non-profit organizations, including a district library and two state government departments.

“Students are learning new skills, like collecting and assessing data, working with businesses that want to be more energy efficient, working to preserve farmland, and focusing on how educational programs may be more impactful and effective,” said Elizabeth LaPorte, Graham Institute Program Manager.

Graham Sustainability Scholars Interns, Partner Organizations & Projects

  • Meg Nicholsen (Earth & Environmental Science), Ypsilanti District Library, Adapting Garden-to-Table Lessons for Youth
  • Will Dormer (Program in the Environment, Economics, & Computer Science), National Wildlife Federation, Ohio River Valley Water Quality
  • Erin Schimmel (Civil & Environ. Engineering), Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development, Farmland Preservation
  • Hershy Jalluri (Psychology & Economics), Michigan Dept. of Agriculture & Rural Development, Farmland Preservation
  • Sam Works (Program in the Environment), EcoWorks, Energy Efficiency for Detroit Businesses and Residents
  • Mikayla Mitchell (Cognitive Science & Sustainability), Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Hurray to partners!

Partners working with Graham Scholars this summer (see the list above) provide an opportunity for students to further develop project management, collaboration, and other skills applicable to all career paths. Key staff members are guiding interns this summer and will guide interdisciplinary teams of Scholars this fall and winter. Scholars learn through team collaboration and project-based experience that sustainability challenges require interdisciplinary solutions. 

In addition, Esther Woo, who is pursuing a master of science degree in Environmental Justice and Geospatial Data Sciences, has been awarded the Dow Sustainability Fellows Distinguished Award Summer Internship. Her focus will be on Dow Fellows Program data collection, analysis, and impact reporting.

“The Graham Scholars and the Dow Fellows co-curricular programs are unique in their commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration,” said LaPorte. “Students draw upon their collective experience in engineering, business, natural resources, public health, and other disciplines.”

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