2023 SECU PUBLIC FELLOWS

IN THE SUMMER OF 2023, 17 UNC ASHEVILLE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE SECU PUBLIC FELLOWS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, INTERNING UP TO 300 HOURS OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, USING THEIR unique and impactful UNC Asheville ARTS and sciences EDUCATION TO BENEFIT HIGH-QUALITY NONPROFIT AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING LIFE IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA.

For the fourth consecutive year, UNC Asheville's proposal to be a partner with the State Employees Credit Union Foundation was accepted. The Foundation provided a $110,000 grant to fund the internships and professional development experiences that connected interested, talented undergraduate students with local organizations. The students gained meaningful on-the-job experience with local organizations that provided a unique learning opportunity that allowed students to give back to their community.

Learn more about the SECU Public Fellows and hear about their experiences in their own words:

Jillian Bailey

Muddy Sneakers

"My internship experience with Muddy Sneakers this summer has been utterly invaluable. I have learned so much about myself, my community, and non-profits as a whole. I so deeply enjoyed working with the team at Muddy Sneakers. The people I worked with had such passion for educating children and were so proud of the work they were doing. Being surrounded by that genuine enthusiasm was contagious, and I witnessed and experienced so much perseverance through various challenges over the summer that only inspired me further."

Kaisa Chancey

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry

"During the course of my internship I had the opportunity to try on the volunteer roles available at the Crisis Ministry. As a Counselor, I had a great opportunity to get to know our clients better and to hear their stories. I became more aware of the needs in our community and what type of services are available to help our clients. I gained a lot of perspective into our unhoused community as well, and learned that the most common cause contributing to homelessness was a trauma history. Occasionally, some of our clients were visibly suffering from an acute mental disorder. The Crisis Ministry is one of the most significant charities in terms of assisting the unhoused with clothing and hygiene products, so I had the opportunity to get to know many of our Asheville unhoused neighbors."

Ona Elkins

NC House District 114

"This summer I was able to participate in an incredible internship experience that was partially based in Asheville, specifically House District 114, and partially in the North Carolina General Assembly in Raleigh. Through this experience, I met a host of incredible people who were experts in a range of fields, from education, to LGBTQ+ rights, to regenerative agriculture and rural development. I learned so much about how our state government operates, how to make an impact on the legislative process, and about what I want to do after I graduate from UNC Asheville this May. This internship has put me on the path to succeed in my dream career and I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity."

David Gingold

MANNA Foodbank

"My internship experience has been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to take on meaningful projects, provide assistance to the community of 16 counties that MANNA serves, and come to a better understanding of what work is interesting and meaningful to me. It was a goal of mine at the beginning of the summer to shadow various departments in order to have a better understanding of food banking in nonprofits. In my internship at MANNA food bank, I was given a day or two each week to work with departments other than the programs team, which was my home base. Many of these experiences connected me face-to-face with the people we serve. Seeing how in need and grateful many of the people are validated my belief that the time I've spent on my internship has been genuinely impactful."

Reagan Hakes

U.S. Forest Service

"The Forest Service benefits communities on a local and national level, as forests provide habitat, beauty, recreation, and adventure. They sequester carbon dioxide and produce so much oxygen for us to breathe, and it's so important that we protect them, take care of them, and continue to learn about them. I have learned so much throughout this internship working with the forest service, and I plan to continue working with them throughout this next year and possibly after graduation. That would be really fun. It was such a good opportunity, and I'm very thankful for it."

Jordan Morehead

Mountain BizWorks

"I have learned so many practical skills and been able to see different career paths that I had not considered prior. I'm very proud of what I was able to accomplish here at Mountain BizWorks and believe that many of the connections I have made here will help carry me over the next few years in helping me find future jobs in the area. This whole experience has shown me what I can do in my own time to better prepare myself for my career goals."

Lillian Morrison

Children First/Communities in Schools

"The biggest takeaway from the experience that has impacted my career development is realizing the impact of nonprofit organizations. Children First stands out by emphasizing direct care and getting to know families on a personal level in order to provide the best quality of support... my career plan is to become a bilingual speech pathologist, and I have now been inspired to explore the possibility of pursuing this within the context of a nonprofit so that I can provide accessible, extensive services to children from low-income families."

Kelsie Rothwell

Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)

"Being at so many markets over the summer has given me an incredible opportunity to connect with the community. I have been able to tell so many people about the work that ASAP does and the resources that are available to them... Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity to be a SECU fellow. I had an amazing time this summer working with ASAP, and I hope that you all will continue to support your local farmers."

Abbie Stabosz

Appalachian Wildlife Refuge

"Seeing so many people be so connected to these animals and care so much about them and their stories gives me hope for the future of our wildlife and of our planet. I have always known that I want to work with animals but spending these past few months at Appalachian Wildlife Refuge has confirmed that I do want to pursue conservation as a career. Whether it will be rehabilitation or something else, I am not sure. But this experience has heightened my excitement for my future."