Summer Intern Profile: Ella McTasney
Ella McTasney is a junior in the Nutrition Department interning at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment.
What company or organization are you interning for, and what are the responsibilities of your role?
I am interning for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst. They host a nature camp for kids, so I've been assisting with leading groups of kids in nature lessons, field trips, and group activities. I have also helped the directors Jeff Mazur and Monya Relles with some administrative paperwork.
Where did you learn about your internship and what inspired you to apply for it?
I have been volunteering with the Hitchcock Center for the past year and even applied to be a camp counselor for the summer, but they already had their positions filled. Therefore, I asked if I could do an unpaid internship there, as I am very fond of the work they do and their organizational values. They were more than happy to have me be a part of their team.
How has your experience at UMass Amherst helped prepare you to thrive in this internship?
My experience at UMass through the Experiential Learning Project run by Dr. Cordeiro has prepared me tremendously for this internship. I first volunteered for Hitchcock through the Experiential Learning Project, and this connection has proven to be invaluable. I have been so supported both as a student and individual by Dr. Cordeiro and her team, with them constantly pushing me to apply for scholarships and positions like this one. The unwavering academic and emotional support of the Experiential Learning Project Team has made me more confident as a student and someone in the workforce, and I am grateful that UMass offers this internship. Additionally, I have found professors and staff at UMass to be extremely helpful in academia and career planning in the past two years I have been here, whether it be help with editing my resume or office hours for classes.
How did you first hear about Academic Works and the Summer 26 Unpaid Internship Scholarship?
I first heard about the scholarship when looking through postings on Academic Works for UMass.
In what ways have you found the scholarship helpful for you during your internship and over summer?
The OCP scholarship has been helpful in paying for rent and other living expenses. It has also allowed me to save some money from my part-time job for the future, ensuring some financial cushion once I finish undergrad, as I am planning to get my master's in Nutrition.
I had been stressed about figuring out a plan for the summer and earning money since I had already confirmed my lease. I was very excited and honestly shocked as well [to get it].
