20 App State students develop professional skills through SECU Foundation internships

View larger image — The State Employees’ Credit Union Public Fellows Internship Program afforded 20 App State students the opportunity to complete internships over the 2023 spring and summer terms. Photo submitted

“Employers are seeking students who have had meaningful internship experiences that prepare them for the world of work, and this program demonstrates our commitment to supporting students in that endeavor. We’re incredibly grateful to the SECU Foundation’s ongoing partnership and support to make this internship program such a success.”

Jennifer Shaffer, App State’s director of career development

Edited by Brian Miller

Posted Sep. 17, 2023 at 12:52 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — The State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Public Fellows Internship Program, funded by the SECU Foundation, afforded 20 Appalachian State University students the opportunity to complete internships over the 2023 spring and summer terms.

“Employers are seeking students who have had meaningful internship experiences that prepare them for the world of work, and this program demonstrates our commitment to supporting students in that endeavor. We’re incredibly grateful to the SECU Foundation’s ongoing partnership and support to make this internship program such a success.”

Jennifer Shaffer, App State’s director of career development

The program is designed to help students develop their professional skills as they work with leaders of community-based businesses, nonprofits or government agencies, and students receive $5,000 in funding support during the internship.

“Employers are seeking students who have had meaningful internship experiences that prepare them for the world of work, and this program demonstrates our commitment to supporting students in that endeavor,” said Jennifer Shaffer, App State’s director of career development. “We’re incredibly grateful to the SECU Foundation’s ongoing partnership and support to make this internship program such a success.”

To date, SECU Foundation’s investment totals more than $9 million and provides students with local apprenticeship opportunities in rural, underserved communities across the state. Shaffer said that since 2015, more than 140 App State students have had the opportunity to complete the internship of their choice through the program.

Intern Katelyn McKinney ’23, who graduated from App State with a Bachelor of Science in political science-public administration and is now a graduate student in the public administration program, said, “The internship program has helped to guide my academic and career pursuits and has provided a path to my career goal of becoming an urban planner. I am truly grateful for the scholarship support and the continued support of and investment in my future.”

The internship program was first announced in 2015, as a collaboration with the University of North Carolina System for a three-campus pilot. The success of the pilot, along with the growing need for paid undergraduate internships, led the SECU Foundation to expand the program to all 16 UNC System universities in 2022.

Undergraduate students participating in the Appalachian Commitment to a College Education for Student Success (ACCESS) Scholarship Program, or degree-seeking undergraduate students in the Department of Government and Justice Studies, Department of Social Work and public health program, are eligible to apply.

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App State’s 2023 SECU Public Fellows interns

Heather Briscoe ’23, of Asheville, interned at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. Briscoe holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Daisa Campbell ’23, of Boone, interned with the Mediation and Restorative Justice Center in Boone. Campbell holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Emma Conley ’23, of Clemmons, interned with the High Country Recovery Center in Boone. Conley is a social work graduate student and holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Luke Day, of Graham, interned with the Alamance County Sheriff's Office. Day is a senior criminal justice major.
Evan Flaherty, of Niceville, Florida, interned with the Town of Boone. Flaherty is a senior criminal justice major.
Brandy Fowler ’23, of Connelly Springs, interned with the Chloe Waldrop Taylor Renewal Center in Hickory. Fowler holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Andrea Francisco ’23, of Morganton, interned with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in Burke County. Francisco holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Asja Guerrero ’23, of Connelly Springs, interned with the Department of Public Safety Detention Center in Burke County. Guerrero holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Russell Letourneau ’23, of Advance, interned with the Boone Police Department. Letourneau holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Megan McCloskey ’23, interned with the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children. McCloskey holds a B.S. in public health from App State.
Katelyn McKinney ’23, of Reidsville, interned with the City of Reidsville government. McKinnery holds a B.S. in political science from App State.
Lacie Minton ’23, of Lenoir, interned at the Caldwell County Department of Social Services. Minton holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Eve Montgomery, of Winston-Salem, interned with the Winston-Salem Police Department. Montgomery is a senior criminal justice major.
Claire Smith, from Huntersville, interned at Generations Ashe in West Jefferson. Smith is a social work graduate student and holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Alex Spry, of Mocksville, interned at Glenbridge Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Boone. Spry is a social work graduate student and holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Montana Stanley ’23, of West Jefferson, interned with the Ashe County Department of Social Services. Stanley holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Kenzie Stovall ’23, of Goldsboro, interned at the Wayne County Courthouse. Stovall holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Gracie Woods ’23, of Union Mills, interned with the Burke County Public School System. Woods holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Riley Wood ’23, of Spindale, interned with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction. Wood holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Anabel Zayas ’23, of Linville, interned with the Williams YMCA of Avery County. Zayas holds a B.S. in public health from App State.

About the Career Development Center

The Career Development Center at Appalachian State University supports the mission of the university and its Division of Student Affairs in developing lifelong learners and leaders by engaging and challenging students within a culture of care and inclusion. Students who participate in the center’s services are able to identify core values, beliefs and skills and use them to articulate relatable career goals; acquire transferable skills and relevant experiences for future professional endeavors; and utilize resources that are available to gain experiential learning opportunities and cultivate professional networks. Learn more at https://careers.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

“Employers are seeking students who have had meaningful internship experiences that prepare them for the world of work, and this program demonstrates our commitment to supporting students in that endeavor. We’re incredibly grateful to the SECU Foundation’s ongoing partnership and support to make this internship program such a success.”

Jennifer Shaffer, App State’s director of career development

App State’s 2023 SECU Public Fellows interns

Heather Briscoe ’23, of Asheville, interned at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office. Briscoe holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Daisa Campbell ’23, of Boone, interned with the Mediation and Restorative Justice Center in Boone. Campbell holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Emma Conley ’23, of Clemmons, interned with the High Country Recovery Center in Boone. Conley is a social work graduate student and holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Luke Day, of Graham, interned with the Alamance County Sheriff's Office. Day is a senior criminal justice major.
Evan Flaherty, of Niceville, Florida, interned with the Town of Boone. Flaherty is a senior criminal justice major.
Brandy Fowler ’23, of Connelly Springs, interned with the Chloe Waldrop Taylor Renewal Center in Hickory. Fowler holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Andrea Francisco ’23, of Morganton, interned with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in Burke County. Francisco holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Asja Guerrero ’23, of Connelly Springs, interned with the Department of Public Safety Detention Center in Burke County. Guerrero holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Russell Letourneau ’23, of Advance, interned with the Boone Police Department. Letourneau holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Megan McCloskey ’23, interned with the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children. McCloskey holds a B.S. in public health from App State.
Katelyn McKinney ’23, of Reidsville, interned with the City of Reidsville government. McKinnery holds a B.S. in political science from App State.
Lacie Minton ’23, of Lenoir, interned at the Caldwell County Department of Social Services. Minton holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Eve Montgomery, of Winston-Salem, interned with the Winston-Salem Police Department. Montgomery is a senior criminal justice major.
Claire Smith, from Huntersville, interned at Generations Ashe in West Jefferson. Smith is a social work graduate student and holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Alex Spry, of Mocksville, interned at Glenbridge Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Boone. Spry is a social work graduate student and holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Montana Stanley ’23, of West Jefferson, interned with the Ashe County Department of Social Services. Stanley holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Kenzie Stovall ’23, of Goldsboro, interned at the Wayne County Courthouse. Stovall holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Gracie Woods ’23, of Union Mills, interned with the Burke County Public School System. Woods holds a B.S. in social work from App State.
Riley Wood ’23, of Spindale, interned with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction. Wood holds a B.S. in criminal justice from App State.
Anabel Zayas ’23, of Linville, interned with the Williams YMCA of Avery County. Zayas holds a B.S. in public health from App State.