Over the summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern for ExCELL (Excellence in Children’s Early Language and Literacy) because of the generous grant given to me by the Fordham Honors Program. ExCELL’s goal is to improve the literacy rate of young children in Richmond, Virginia, and help prepare preschoolers for success in kindergarten. The program works with the Richmond Public School system to run a summer school program called Ocean Adventures for children who have just completed preschool and are headed to kindergarten in the fall. There is also a strong focus on strengthening relationships between the children, families, and teachers through family engagement events. Some aspects of ExCELL’s summer program reminded me of the FCRH Honors Program because of the Honors Program’s emphasis on education, connections with professors, and small, seminar-style classes.
ExCELL provides all materials needed for the summer school program, including books, classroom decorations, arts and crafts, learning materials, games, lesson plans, and more. Without ExCELL, the program would not exist, and many children would go into kindergarten underprepared and set up for difficulties in school. For my internship, I helped organize the office and prepare the Ocean Adventures materials to be sent to the schools. I worked alongside another intern to plan and prepare materials for family events and brainstorm ideas for increasing family attendance and involvement. I also occasionally communicated with Spanish-speaking children and parents, as many people in the program are ESL learners, and I am pursuing a minor in Spanish.
I had a wonderful experience working for ExCELL, and I am so thankful for the incredible opportunity given to me by the Honors Program. Through my work, I learned so much about the literacy crisis in Richmond, the importance of starting education in the household and focusing on reading and writing, and the effort that goes into planning events. It was very fulfilling to see my hard work and the work of the organization pay off in the joy of the children’s faces in each summer school classroom. I am leaving ExCELL this summer feeling inspired by my coworkers and their passion for supporting literacy and the children of the greater Richmond area. I cannot wait to follow along and see the program grow.
Authors: Isabella Alcantara, Quinn Burke, Andres Caballero, David Cepeda, Reese Dains, Adriana Duran, Isaac Forson, Julia Gudis, Sean Huynh, Natalie Loo, Claire Murphy, Jolie Robison
All participants, including the group chaperone, Frances Tiburcio, at Hospital Castañer
This past June, the Fordham Honors Program sent twelve students on a Global Outreach (¡GO!) trip to San Juan with the goal of learning about Puerto Rican culture and the social justice issues present in Puerto Rican communities. Throughout the two-week trip, a mix of community engagement opportunities, reflective moments, and competitive Exploding Kittens games brought us together to create an unforgettable trip.
In the semester before our trip, our team met weekly to learn a little about Puerto Rico’s history, fundraise donations for the organizations we were working with, and practice our Spanish. By the time June rolled around, we were excited and ready to go. After a smooth flight over, we were immediately thrust into a hectic schedule. The average day looked something like this: wake up for breakfast at 6:30am, head to the first activity by 8am, break for a quick lunch around noon, then head to our second activity until dinner at 6pm, followed by a group reflection and an early bedtime to make sure we were ready to do it all again the next day.
Julia, Andres, and Claire with doctors at the Dr. Garcia Rinaldi Foundation
Most of our mornings were spent with the Dr. Garcia Rinaldi Foundation, shadowing neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons as they operated. We were particularly inspired by the passion of all the medical professionals in the neurosurgery rotations. Everyone cared about their coworkers like family and readily welcomed us into the surgical rooms as if we were their own students. The Foundation also took us to the San Juan Bautista Medical School, where we attended talks with professors and met with current students. Another day was spent touring Castañer Hospital, a hospital serving Lares and the surrounding mountainous area. There, we heard from more doctors and learned about the history of Lares, which played a pivotal role in the resistance movement against Spanish colonial rule.
Natalie and Adriana at ACUTAS
Through the places we visited and doctors we spoke with, we had the chance to learn firsthand about the Puerto Rican health system. Many of the doctors would talk about Puerto Rican “brain drain,” a term referring to the mass exodus of medical professionals from Puerto Rico to the States, largely due to the struggling higher education system and the difficulty of pursuing a fulfilling, well-paying medical career in Puerto Rico. We also discussed the health insurance system, learning that Puerto Rico insurance reimbursement rates are drastically lower than in the mainland. All these issues are largely tied to the island’s history of colonization and current problematic status as a U.S. territory. We continued to see the effects of brain drain beyond the medical field when we spent a morning in Ceiba volunteering with geriatric patients. Many had not seen their children and grandchildren in years as they, like so many others, had left the island in search of better professional opportunities. It was a privilege to eat, talk, and even dance with these elderly Puerto Ricans, many of whom were almost 100 years old.
Andres, Sean, Natalie, and Reese at ACUTAS
Our afternoons were typically spent at ACUTAS, or Asociación Comunidades Unidas Tomando Acción Solidaria, a community center founded in the wake of Hurricane Maria to serve the Toa Baja community, which was largely neglected in the government’s recovery efforts. As the community continues to recover from the 2017 hurricane, with the local public school reopening only last year, we got to help revitalize the organization’s space by scraping off old paint and mold and laying a fresh coat of paint on their walls, ceilings, and fences.
Isaac at ACUTAS
Amidst the sweaty, physical activity, we got to hear about the personal experiences of those working and volunteering at ACUTAS. One woman, who has struggled firsthand with the flawed healthcare system, has dedicated her entire life to serving her community through ACUTAS. She and many others had personal experiences with Hurricane Maria and were passionate about the political and social change they hoped to see and create in Puerto Rico. Like with the neurosurgeons, we were struck by the strong sense of community at ACUTAS and their initiative to take care of one another. We’re glad we got to contribute a small part to this organization filled with people who so clearly love their community and are committed to serving others before themselves.
Julia, Claire, and Quinn during a rest day
Between our time at ACUTAS and with the Foundation, we found time to visit the island’s beautiful beaches, grab some ice cream at a local shop, and take a tour of Old San Juan, where we learned more about Puerto Rico’s history, visited an art gallery, and did a bit of shopping. Throughout all our activities, the eventful van rides between them, and the meals we cooked together, our team formed lasting friendships and countless valuable memories.
This trip was an incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in Puerto Rico’s beautiful culture — from the music and food to the warmth of the community — and learn about the history and inequities on the island. We are grateful to our ¡GO! leaders for all their planning, our chaperone for her patience, and of course Global Outreach and the Honors Program for making this all possible.
This March, the Fordham Honors Program funded a small student group to view Carnegie Hall’s performance of “America in Weimar: On the Margins” by the American Composer’s Orchestra. As a member of the Cherokee Nation, and a student from Oklahoma, I petitioned for this concert trip because of its important representation of contemporary Indigenous Classical music through family friend Jerod Tate’s performance. Two other students, Natalie and Andy, came with me to view the performance, and I’m so grateful I was able to share this unique musical experience with them.
Olivia, Natalie, and Andy with Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate
The theme of the concert, “America in Weimar,” provided an eclectic and diverse selection of music. The Weimar era, which was roughly 1918 to 1933, revolutionized a new musical style in an “experimental laboratory” of sound that transformed classical music. Black American music influenced the region, particularly by artists like Duke Ellington, who brought jazz into conversation with European classical composers. The first few songs of the concert focused on songs from this era; for example, George Antheil’s A Jazz Symphony, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady and Solitude, and a jazz opera- The Threepenny Opera. After intermission, the concert shifted thematically towards contemporary American music inspired by Weimar. Tonia Ko premiered her piece Her Land, Expanded, which was inspired by Swiss church bells and featured a video of jungle foliage. However, the finale was my favorite performance, as it resonated with my roots in Oklahoma and championing Indigenous culture.
Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, a family friend of mine from Oklahoma, had his New York premiere of “Clans” from his Lowak Shoppala‘ album. Tate is a Chickasaw classical composer who is extremely innovative in his expression of native culture through the Western music tradition. The Washington Post has selected him as “22 for ‘22: Composers and Performers to watch this year” and he is a Cultural Ambassador for the U. S. Department of State. His performance was a reimagined ancestral meeting of the Chickasaw animal clans: Bird (Foshi ̍), Alligator (Acho’chaba’), Squirrel (Fani’), Skunk (Koni), Panther (Kowishto’ Losa’), and Raccoon (Shawi’). Each clan was represented through a model wearing Chickasaw regalia designer Margaret Wheeler’s creations. It was incredible to see Jerod and his son on stage performing, and the audience thought so too as they erupted into a five minute-long standing ovation for him. I was filled with pride at seeing an audience full of fellow natives, including members of the Chickasaw legislature! We mingled with audience members after the show and heard from the organizers of the American Composer’s Orchestra. Overall, it was an honor to represent Fordham at this hub of new culture and music. Thank you to Dr. Meneses and the Fordham administration who made this opportunity possible!
This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Jonas Bronck Academy (JBA), a middle school located in the Bronx, through the non-profit Friends of JBA (FOJBA) because of the generous fellowship grant given to me by the Honors Program. As a psychology major, I aim to help others through personal connections and advocating for mental health. After a whole academic year of helping out my mentee at JBA through the mentorship program offered through the Honors Program, I knew I wanted to keep impacting students’ lives in the summer.
The mission of FOJBA is to enhance the academic and social-emotional growth of JBA scholars, which was certainly something I wanted to be part of. My time during the internship was divided into three main tasks:
Working with my mentee and other students during summer school.
Researching and planning ideas that could be implemented in the school.
Planning long-term ideas to collect donations for the organization.
During the first three weeks of the internship, much of my focus was on writing documents of ideas I wanted to implement in the school; one could say “proposals” in some way. The three papers I spent most of my time writing about involved mindfulness, meditation, and journaling; implementing positive habit formation; and a college preparation program for the future high school.
I also helped with researching companies we could contact and apply for funds, prepared and sent emails, and brainstormed and planned ideas that could be executed within the school to raise money. It is essential to establish long-term partnerships and school fundraiser ideas that bring a satisfactory amount of money for expenditures within the school that could be used, such as for the future college preparation program.
The work I have mentioned above is most of the work I have done behind the scenes. The other part of the internship was working with the kids during summer school, which was my favorite part. Seeing the students making progress daily was very satisfactory. After the internship, seeing my work over the summer was very fulfilling. I am very grateful for the Honors Program, the staff at JBA, and the donors who made this experience possible.
This summer, I interned with the World Youth Alliance, a non-profit organization seeking to promote human dignity in education, policy, and culture.
The organization is a coalition of young people from developing and developed countries united in solidarity for this cause. It has over one million members from over 160 countries and is present in every continent of the world.
As the Project Management Intern, I had the opportunity to assist the European sector of the organization with day-to-day tasks, as well as important projects. One project I helped spearhead is the Dignity Defenders Campaign, which helps raise funds for the organization.
Being in Brussels, I was able to attend a multitude of conferences at the European Parliament, where I monitored and took part in the conferences. I was able to bring the importance of human dignity and the role of young people in protecting it into the discussions. My experiences as a dignity defender at the World Youth Alliance echo my experiences as a scholar for justice in the Honors Program.
My internship at the World Youth Alliance this summer greatly contributed to my professional growth. I was able to hone my communication skills by networking with numerous people of all backgrounds, as well as by advocating for human dignity in the European Parliament and with other international organizations.
I also cultivated a deep sense of responsibility during my internship, as I was trusted with important tasks such as representing the organization at conferences, as well as leading important projects such as the Dignity Defenders Campaign.
Overall, I am pleased with how my summer internship went. I gained a great deal of professional experience in a rewarding internship. I am very grateful to the Honors Program for giving me the opportunity to go to Brussels for this internship through their generous fellowship. I look forward to utilizing the new skills in my repertoire during the upcoming school year.
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with The PVBLIC Foundation, which is a media, technology, public advocacy, and sustainable development-focused registered 501(c) nonprofit. This organization “mobilizesmedia, data, and technology for sustainable development and social impact.” For example, working with the UN Department of Global Communications, the PVBLIC Foundation has created the SDG Media Zone. This zone, constructed as a physical space for the United Nations General Assembly, advances the 2030 Agenda out of the policy sphere and into the public discourse through impactful in-depth interviews and conversations on global issues. My internship began the week of June 7th, and I split my week assisting with communications work for the Media Zone and the parent, PVBLIC.
In my role assisting with the Communications team, I was able to apply my media knowledge and develop my interpersonal soft skills with fellow interns and my superiors. Something I especially valued was that interns were offered the opportunity to be connected with people, offices, and organizations that we were interested in, and PVBLIC found connections to those bodies and coordinated mentorship sessions. I was provided a mentorship with someone highly involved in ambassadorial work in the United Nations, and they provided me with invaluable insight on the networking and career-building process within the UN. In fact, since my internship, I was offered a job with PVBLIC Foundation, and have since been helping the group with their initiatives as well as prepare for this year’s United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York City in September.
I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Keller for encouraging me to apply, and Hannah for her guidance throughout the Fellowship process. The Honors Summer Fellowship allowed me the freedom to look at unique work opportunities and provided me with the opportunity to work for an organization that does incredible work towards issues I care about. It is because of the financial support from the Honors Program that I was able to explore professional and academic interests and consequently secure a job at a positive mission-driven organization. I highly encourage students to pursue opportunities within the Honors Program because they open doors for invaluable creative, academic, and professional endeavors.
Authors: Natalie Loo, first-year; Andy Diaz, sophomore; Olivia Griffin, sophomore; Harry Parks, junior
This spring, the Fordham Honors Program sent four students to Los Angeles for the annual America Jesuit Colleges and Universities Honors Conference. Held at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), the conference brought Jesuit Universities Honors programs from across the nation together. However, our travels from New York to L.A. took an unexpected turn, leaving us with an exciting story to tell.
Harry, Olivia, Natalie, and Andy at Loyola Marymount University
With just an hour left in our flight, the plane emergency landed in Albuquerque (firefighters even boarded the plane!) and we remained grounded from 7 pm that night to 2 pm the next day. Although we missed a portion of the conference, we like to say that our adventure taught us to apply our Jesuit Honors values in an unpredictable context. Not every experience in life will go perfectly according to schedule, despite the number of hours spent planning. As Jesuit Honors students, it is our responsibility to set an example of patience, wisdom, and kindness that we would like to see in the communities around us.
We eventually arrived in Los Angeles where we listened to passionate student speakers at Loyola’s gorgeous hilltop campus. Then we had an amazing meal at Grand Central Market where we made friends with various students from around the country. In fact, our group was able to connect with an Honors cohort all the way from the University of San Francisco!
Director of LMU Honors, Trevor Zink, hosting a session at the conference
During our time at the conference, we specifically focused on the theme of curiosity. Curiosity drives us to devote ourselves to the pursuit of knowledge. But we also learned that university-level intellectual cultivation isn’t tied down by your major or classes. Jesuit Honors students from across the country presented about the niche research projects they’ve embarked on, such as redefining story narration through stop-motion or designing a new public transportation system for rural areas. As we listened to these talks, we felt inspired to impart similar creativity and playful curiosity to the Fordham Honors community.
Andy at the Albuquerque Airport during the delay
Additionally, we discussed our role as Jesuit Honors students in being catalysts for change in the institution, as well as being motivated by compassion and wisdom. The tagline “scholars for justice” embodies this commitment to thoughtful involvement in the university and surrounding communities. In collaboration with the other students at the conference, we revised the “Essential Characteristics of Jesuit Honors Institutions,” a document that lists core values shared by Jesuit Honors programs across the country, to align with our modern ideals of justice. This practice of reflection was helpful in evaluating the aspects of our own community that we want to change or implement throughout Fordham’s Honors Program.
This trip might not have been what we expected, with an emergency landing in Albuquerque and 45-degree rainy weather in Los Angeles. However, the sense of tenacity and friendship we developed, as a result, was incredibly valuable. We’ve discussed the trip many times since, and none of us would give up the formative experience that this AJCU conference granted us. Going forward, we hope to inspire Fordham University with the new patience and compassion that we learned, in tandem with the ever-present goal of cura personalis.
With the financial support of the Honors Program Ambassadorial Grant, I had the opportunity to attend the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s Latinos on the Fast Track (LOFT) Summit in Washington D.C. While I was there, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a panel of prominent Latinx White House leaders and visit the White House. Following that panel, I and 50 other students participated in a day of Open Sessions: students proposed topics of discussions they wanted to lead and others were able to join. I also had the opportunity to network with White House officials as well as employees within the financial and national security realm. To cap it off, students were invited to attend the annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration and Award show that took place in the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.
The conference provided a perfect opportunity for me to explore and learn about my areas of interest: political science and marketing. Hearing from Latinx leaders and learning about their experiences working in our nation’s capital was both inspiring and motivating. I was moved by their stories of coming from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds and making their ways to D.C. where they now head offices and advise the President. Overall, the conference was the experience of a lifetime at which I was able to connect with other Latinx students, network with professionals, and learn from peers and leaders about their fields of interest and work.
I am so grateful to the Honors Program for encouraging me every step of the way and for assisting me in lodging in D.C. for the duration of the conference. I encourage other Honors students to seek opportunities that foster their professional and intellectual growth; the Ambassadorial Grant can open so many doors.
As our small group of Honors students stood on the Alpha House lawn on Wednesday, we put worldly worries in our rearview mirror. We had just wished luck to all the students who stayed behind to do homework or attend classes, and we set off. The walk to the New York Botanical Gardens was short and laughter-filled. Upon arrival, we made our way to the gift shop and picked up our gift cards, which were purchased in advance by the Fordham Honors Program. Once the anticipation had substantially built, we went outside to begin the walk itself.
We made a bee-line for the pond where Kusama’s reflective pool was during her exhibit last year, where we saw asters, pitcher plants, and cardinal flowers (among many others!) Across from the big pond sits a formation of rocks with water flowing into a little pool. We saw dozens of tadpoles happily swimming about in the pool and wiggling their little tails, kicking silt into the water. It might just be my imagination, but they looked bigger than last week. I hope they grow up to be big and strong, like the numerous frogs we observed chilling around the pool. Some sat in the water, and others clung to the (nearly vertical) rock faces opposite us. One frog had situated itself in a current of water flowing into the pool — the image of bliss. Another frog, similarly moisturized, sat in a pile of wet moss, perfectly camouflaged.
After the thrilling frog pond adventure, we meandered through the Thain Family Forest towards the waterfall, which has been a Botans Walkover staple for over a year. We elected to go to the overlook to get a good view. The leaves-on-rocks combination made for a treacherous hike, but the destination was worth it. We peered over the railing at the waterfall and the people walking below. The leaves looked stunning silhouetted against the sky. I tried to take a picture, but it didn’t do justice for the scene before me. Just as we were about to leave, a red-tailed hawk decided to make a dramatic entrance into our line of vision. It perched on a tree maybe thirty or forty feet away from us, magically at eye level. In its talons was a rather unfortunate chipmunk. We paid our respects to the chipmunk and departed.
The sun was painting the gardens gold when we returned to the gift shop. The time we spent there was fruitful — I was particularly captivated by the array of graphic socks for $10 a pair. We set off for Fordham once more, feeling content from our moment of peace and respite.
Through the generosity of the Rose Hill Honors Program, I had the opportunity this summer to intern in the events department at the Oklahoma City Myriad Botanical Gardens. The Myriad Gardens is a public, 17-acre urban park in the middle of the downtown district that hosts a large number of events for the community. The Gardens’ mission is “to increase the quality of life and vibrancy by creating and sustaining a world-class public garden and offering quality horticultural, cultural and recreational programs and events for all.”
In my role on the events team, I was able to develop my problem-solving, professional correspondence, and project management skills. My experience was invaluable in exploring my future career path in the nonprofit sector. However, my favorite part of the internship was developing and executing my own public event, “JUMP! At Myriad Botanical Gardens.” The goal of the event was to provide an engaging opportunity for the community to participate in a free, fitness-focused jump rope event, with an emphasis on educating participants on jump rope culture and heart health. I managed all aspects of the event, including securing sponsors, contracting performers, budgeting, and marketing. Ultimately, I wanted to create an environment that fostered community building. I procured a sponsorship from the American Heart Association, and they provided free jump ropes to all participants. The event went smoothly, and it was a joy to see the smiles on many faces, young and old.
One of the main concerns of the Myriad Gardens is accessibility, whether financial, physical, or social. I consider their attention to this issue extremely important to the fabric of Oklahoma City. We hosted sensory activities for children with disabilities, a variety of free weekly fitness classes, and many cultural events. Our free summer movie series was a big draw for many individuals experiencing homelessness in the downtown area. By providing free, educational, and interactive activities, the Myriad Gardens has transformed itself from a green space into a key community magnet. I am incredibly grateful to the Honors Program for granting me an Honors Summer Internship Fellowship, which allowed me to learn from this organization. It has been wonderful to aid in the growth, vitality, and visibility of the downtown district of my home city, especially as an Urban Studies major. I look forward to sharing my newfound knowledge in accessibility-focused event planning and community building with the Fordham Honors community!
