Five McDaniel students awarded Summer Intern Fellowships

Five McDaniel students have been awarded Summer Intern Fellowships from the college's Center for Experience and Opportunity (CEO).

Students spent their summers analyzing the behaviors of pigeons, mitigating invasive species at Cunningham Falls State Park, conducting undergraduate research on Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors and more.

The Summer Intern Fellowship is awarded by the CEO at McDaniel College to provide competitive awards to help defray the cost of summer internships for current students. Recipients represent McDaniel College and the CEO at internship sites throughout the United States and the world. Some of the summer research experience was moved to a virtual environment due to COVID-19.

The program is supported, in part, by generous gifts from The Rupe-Stuart Internship Award, courtesy of McDaniel College Board of Trustee member Mark Stuart M.S. '94 and Timothy Rupe, and The Nora Roberts Foundation.

Learn more about the 2020 Summer Intern Fellowships:

Kylie Baker, a sophomore from Frederick, Md., who is planning to double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science, accepted a seasonal park ranger position with Cunningham Falls State Park as part of their new summer internship program in Thurmont, Md. This new program was created as a collaborative effort of the Maryland State Parks and McDaniel College's CEO. Baker has been supporting the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as well as the state parks' system through assisting in coordination of their volunteer management program and helping to identify and mitigate invasive species within the parks to ensure environmental wellness.

"Working at Cunningham Falls State Park was an amazing part of my summer," Baker said. "The time that I spent with the rangers was enriching and exciting; not only was my internship a good learning opportunity but it was so fun to be outside in a beautiful spot for the season."

Andrew Brantley, a sophomore from Camp Hill, Pa., who is planning to major in Business Administration, accepted an internship experience with the World Trade Center Institute through their Global Pathways for Students (GPS) program in Baltimore, but the summer research was moved to a virtual environment due to COVID-19.

"Spending time with the World Trade Center Institute allowed me to gain insight on how big corporations operate, more specifically how the individuals within these organizations play their roles, and how that contributes to the company's vision," said Brantley. "I was able to gain insight from various industry leaders and learn their stories and how they got into the positions they are in now. I learned the importance of having patience and an open mind when it comes to finding the right career."

Wilson Clayton, a junior Psychology major from Mount Airy, Md., conducted summer research at the University of Kentucky Psychology Department in Lexington, Ky. Clayton assisted with comparative cognition research by studying animal behavior through operant conditioning and analysis. The work this summer included: formulating theories, reviewing related literature, writing up manuscripts and carrying out experiments - all in a professional setting.

"Being able to pursue my passion through the Summer Intern Fellowship has been a critical transition in my academic career. This practical experience in experimental Psychology will help me greatly in the transition to graduate school," Clayton said.

Khalil Edwards, a senior Philosophy major from Honolulu, Hawaii, accepted an internship with MAGIC, Inc. in Westminster, Md., but the summer research was moved to a virtual environment due to COVID-19.

Hannah Thomson, a senior double major in Biology and Psychology from Pennsauken, N.J., has conducted undergraduate research with Yale University. She was originally planning to work at the institution's Child Study Center to gain hands-on experience in their genetics research lab, but the summer research was moved to a virtual environment due to COVID-19. This summer, Thomson has been focusing on meta-analyses of the prevalence of dermatillomania, which is known as a skin-picking disorder, and trichotillomania, a hair-pulling disorder.

"I've really enjoyed working on these meta-analyses because there is a deficit in research on trichotillomania and dermatillomania, especially for how common they are," Thomson said. "Adding to this research bolsters the field as a whole, and I feel very lucky to be an integral part of changing the field. It is particularly important to me as I have had trichotillomania since I was 7 years old, and knowing I am leading change for future generations is empowering."