Interns apply their classroom learning

A couple of Five Towns institutions are benefiting this summer by using interns from Adelphi University’s Community Fellows Program.
The Garden City-based college’s program provides 70 students with internships at non-profit organizations throughout Long Island and New York City, based on each student’s interests and major. Interns must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, write an essay and are interviewed. Professors assist students in writing and polishing their resumes and cover letters. The interns take a one-credit course to prepare for their internships. Students work about 30 hours a week for 10 weeks and are paid $10 an hour. The program is funded by contributions from alumni, businesses and community organizations, and a $875,000 endowment by Adelphi Trustee Angela Jaggar and her husband, Scott.
Adelphi junior Daisi Arichabala, a marketing major, is interning at Woodmere-based Five Towns Community Chest, doing public relations and marketing work. Arichabala has written press releases, updated the agency’s website, created flyers for upcoming events, and visited the agencies Community Chest sponsors. Through events and donation Community Chest supports local non-profit agencies, including the JCC Kosher Food Pantry in Woodmere and the Early Learning Center in Inwood, as well as local families in need.
“It’s great that they have the Community Fellows Program in place,” Arichabala said.” I get a lot of good feedback on my work from the board members. It’s great that you get to apply everything you learn in the classroom into the real world.” The interns are required to keep a journal of their workplace activities and experiences
At the Five Towns Early Learning Center in Inwood, Adelphi seniors Felicia Azeez and Nicholette Lewis are experiencing first-hand what they’ve learned in the classroom as psychology majors. The center provides year-round education to children ranging from 18 months to 5 years old.

“I love how we get to interact with the children,” Azeez said. “We get to experience the kids develop right before our eyes.” She said she enjoys the one-on-one time with each child, and can see the differences in motor and social skills between the different age groups the center serves.
“We get to build relationships with the students and spend time together with each student individually,” Lewis said. She also appreciates the complexity of each child’s individual growth and development. “I feel really lucky and blessed that we have this opportunity,” she added. “Every morning, I can’t wait to come work here.”
Center Director Pepper Robinson appreciates the interns’ contributions. “I look at this as a laboratory in which the interns learn how young children learn and as a result, the interns get a good hands-on experience,” she said. Having the interns allows for more one-on-one learning, Robinson added.
“The student-interns get to focus extensively on experiential learning opportunities that bring classroom theory into direct practice at their work site, providing them with an invaluable resume-enhancing experience and networks of professional contacts,” said Adelphi Associate Director of Internships Jonathan Ivanoff.
Community Chest Executive Director Bob Block said the program helps everyone.. “Adelphi is making a wonderful contribution to non-profits in the community. It’s a win for everyone involved,” he said.