What’s it like to work at a TV news station, law office, or onstage? In a financial planning office, hospital lab, or library? For a company in Europe? With professional soccer players, firefighters, or musicians?

What can you expect to gain from an internship? And what difference does a Naz SPARK Grant make?



A dozen Naz students answered those questions and more:


Stevie Skvarek ’25 (communication and media) interviewed a police chief at a crime scene and was on the roof of a hotel for Jazz Fest while reporting for WROC-TV News Channel 8. His blog post: Learning the ropes of broadcast journalism


Michael Coles ’25 (history, political science, French) worked on legal cases and research and saw how a law firm implements its values. His blog post: Supporting small businesses through law


Isabel Simone ’26 (musical theatre) shared a day-in-her-life video from performing in “A Chorus Line” and explained how her SPARK Grant made it possible. Her story: Onstage internship a “singular sensation” for musical theatre student 


Isabel Simone (in purple)

Grace Stolberg ’24 (finance) gained a lot from being immersed in three financial advising companies — and was hired by the third. Her story: Helping people “build the life they dream of” through finance


Grace Stolberg and her supervisor, Justin Stevens


Layla Boyer ’26 (clinical lab sciences) analyzed blood samples in a hospital lab — where colleagues were like a big family — and ran quality controls to ensure accurate results. Her blog post: Intern discovers “I can be an invaluable asset” as a medical technologist


Katie Ochsle ’26 (English major) — avid book lover — used her SPARK Grant to be able to work with librarians at two libraries, an experience boosted by a 3-credit internship course online. Her blog post: Enlightening summer internship gives insight on library careers


Abby Pattermann ’26 (business leadership and philosophy) interned for a company in Berlin from her home in Syracuse, through a remote opportunity, supported by a SPARK Grant. Her blog post: Gaining HR experience thanks to an international virtual internship

Abby Pattermann interning remotely


Colin Rider ’25 (sports, entertainment, and arts management) tackled digital marketing and managed a team of interns at a professional soccer team in Pittsburgh. His day-in-the-life video and story: Marketing the Pittsburgh Riverhounds


Emma Nichols ’26 (psychology) worked in a firehouse, got to ride along on emergency calls, and gained insights for her future. Her blog post: Firehouse internship helped me find my mental health career path


Kyan Cheung ’26 (music business) was on both the education and production teams for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. His video story: RPO experience opens a new career path

Kyan Cheung sets up an RPO concert in Susan B. Anthony Park

The Naz Center for Life’s Work — including your career coach and the internship director — as well as your faculty can help you find, apply, and prepare for internship opportunities. 


Pro tip: Not all hands-on, for-credit Naz student learning experiences are called internships. Depending on the field of study, students do research, clinical experiences, field placements, practicum, student teaching, theater crew, and more. Students also collaborate with faculty, staff, and/or community partners for powerful learning experiences on and off campus. Examples:


Abby Goldberg ’25 (social work) completed field placements at two nursing homes and then served as a panelist at an event on campus called A Cross-Cultural Conversation on Aging, Caregiving, and End of Life. Her blog post: Elders “have so much to offer to us”

Abby Golberg speaks on a panel


Lizzie Tripp ’23, ’25G (art education) was in art classrooms starting in her first college course. Her video and story: Naz gets future art teachers in the classroom quickly

Lizzie Tripp


Hannah Swayer ’27 (inclusive elementary education and sociology) was a tutor, mentor, and teacher’s assistant in a Rochester kindergarten classroom throughout her first year of college, as part of Nazareth’s Bonner Leader program. Her story: Immersed in what affects learning

Hannah Swayer at Rochester's Austin Steward Elementary School 46