SHERMAN, TEXAS — Education doesn’t stop with the end of the academic year. For more than 50 Austin College students, the learning process may be even more intense this summer as they complete internships around the state, nation, and globe. The areas of study are as varied as the internship sites, with students studying everything from medicine to improvisational theatre and international politics to music.  

The internships are funded by Austin College’s Lilly Endowment Theological Exploration of Vocation program. The Lilly program provides vocational exploration through experiential learning opportunities. Students take part in a two-day retreat prior to the internships to discuss goals, maintain a journal throughout the internship, and complete a 10-page paper detailing their experiences at the close of the summer. In addition, all the interns enroll in a reflections course for the fall term to discuss their experiences and further learn from their exposure to the world of work. Program selection is by application through Austin College’s Office of Career Services.  

Participants:

Students participating in the summer internship program are listed by hometown, along with the area high school from which they graduated, their parents, their internship sites, and the areas of exploration.  

Abilene, Texas

David Shanafelt, Cooper High School, son of Gary and Nancy Shanafelt, St. James Child Development Center in Abilene, teacher education;  

Allen, Texas

Jessica Douglas, Allen High School, daughter of Rose Rothmeier and Bruce Douglas, Independent Bank of McKinney, Texas, medicine;  

Austin, Texas

Thomas Frakes, St. Stephen's Episcopal School, son of Stephen and Janice Frakes, Bair Export in Buenos Aires, Argentina, cultural exploration;

Wesley Johnston, A.N. McCallum High School, son of David Johnston and Beth Rider, The Osgood Center for International Studies, political policy;

Hannah Platt, James Bowie High School, daughter of David and Nancy Platt, Girls Empowerment Network of Austin, Texas, social work;

Christie Wright, James Bowie High School, daughter of Gene and Lynn Wright, Refugee Services of Texas in Austin, gain experience in non-profit organizations while using psychology and Spanish language skills;  

Balch Springs, Texas

Angie Arreaga, Townview Magnet Center, daughter of Miguel and Claudia Arreaga, Global Volunteers Network in Cusco, Peru, working alongside doctors;  

Bastrop, Texas

Jade Rutledge, Bastrop High School, daughter of Ron Rutledge and Elaine Carter, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge in Kodiak, Alaska, medicine;  

Bergheim, Texas

Julie Jones, Boerne High School, daughter of Stanley and Charlene Jones, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Boerne, Texas, youth ministry;  

Birthright, Texas

Katy Williams, North Hopkins High School, daughter of Bob and Lynda Williams, County Extension Agency in Sulphur Springs, Texas, work with children and families;  

Carrollton, Texas

Sarah Khan, Newman Smith High School, daughter of Zahid and Nighat Khan, The Center for Psychological Development, psychology;

Nathan Withers, Newman Smith High School, son of Steve and Liz Withers, The Osgood Center for International Studies in Washington, D.C., political policy and international relations;  

Dallas, Texas

Joshua Gilbreath, R.L. Turner High School, son of Susan and Ronald Gilbreath, Action Video Productions in Arlington, Texas, video production;

Rachel Hendricks, Woodrow Wilson High School, daughter of Stuart Hendricks of Dallas and Erica and Randal Cole of Dallas, Legacy Counseling Center in Dallas, medicine;

Gregory Hernandez, R.L. Turner High School, son of Robert and Dale Hernandez, Washington Improv Theatre in Washington, D.C., the business of improvisation;

Karie Snyder, Ursuline Academy, daughter of Brian and Mary Snyder, See Pictures in Dallas, Texas, production design;  

Denton, Texas

Maegan Fitzgerald, Denton High School, daughter of Jeff and Cindy Fitzgerald, Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land, Texas, implementing a recycling program for the church;  

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Redwanul Hoque, son of Hamidul and Rehana Hoque, Center for Policy Dialogue in Bangladesh, economic and political issues;  

Duncanville, Texas

Tayyar Unal, Duncanville High School, son of Deniz and Corrina Unal, Center for Brain Health in Dallas, Texas, research;  

Flower Mound, Texas

Blaine Schwartz, Edward Marcus High School, daughter of Bruce and Christina Schwartz, Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, medicine;

Asha K. Tharayil, Texas Academy of Math and Science, daughter of Kishore and Sheeba Tharayil, Gilgal Ashwasa Bhavan in Kerala, India, work with a charitable organization to better understand finance within organizations;  

Gail, Texas

Andrew "Tyler" Wallace, Borden High School, son of Buddy and Kip Wallace, Sam Rayburn House Museum in Bonham, Texas, history and museum studies;  

Galena, Illinois

Mike Carlson, Galena High School, son of John and Jean Carlson, American Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok,Thailand, exaining ways to make tangible advancement in world standards of living;  

Garland, Texas

Joey Heimsath, Garland High School, son of Jerry and Maureen Heimsath, International Rescue Committee in Dallas, Texas, marketing and global issues;

Shweta Jain, Plano East Senior High School, daughter of Ajay and Jyoti Jain, The Shepherd School in Nottinghamshire County, England, teaching disabled children;

Deepa Shridhar, South Garland High School, daughter of Doraiswami and Kalyani Shridhar, Akshaya Patra in Bandlalore, India, medicine;  

Grapevine, Texas

Sarah Kendall, Carroll High School, daughter of Dennis and Diana Kendall, Grayson County Children's Advocacy Center, psychology;  

Henderson, Nevada

Jaycie Vincent, Houston Christian High School, daughter of Shelby and Tammy Vincent of Henderson and Travis and Donica Jones of Houston, Texas, Texoma Children's Museum in Denison, Texas, museum studies;  

Houston, Texas

Lisa Simpson, Cypress Creek High School, daughter of Theo and Darlene Simpson, Texoma Children's Museum in Denison, Texas, museum studies;

Arif Sunesara, Clear Lake High School, son of Karim and Rashida Sunesara, CBA 169 in Cordoba, Argentina, finance industry;

Jaycie Vincent, Houston Christian High School, daughter of Travis and Donica Jones of Houston and Shelby and Tammy Vincent of Henderson, Nevada, Texoma Children's Museum in Denison, Texas, museum studies; 

Katy, Texas

Kate Murphy, Cinco Ranch High School, daughter of Gary and Marilyn Murphy, Grayson County Justice Center in Sherman, Texas, medicine; 

Lewisville, Texas

Mallory Latham, Lewisville High School, daughter of Marc and Gina Latham, First Presbyterian Church of Bonham, Texas, ministry;  

Longview, Texas

Ty Gibson, Longview Senior High School, son of Billy and Diane Gibson, Chase Bank Manhattan in Chicago, Illinois, financial analysis and banking;

Amy Holman, Pine Tree High School, daughter of Tod and Eugenie Holman, Grayson County Children's Advocacy Center, psychology;

Molly O'Farrell, Spring Hill High School, daughter of Steve and Jill O'Farrell, Texoma Living! Magazine, publishing, marketing, and journalism; 

Lucas, Texas

Emily Kuo, Allen High School, daughter of David and Ruth Kuo, Collin County Children's Advocacy Center, social work;  

Mesquite, Texas

Brooke Adams, Dr. John Horn High School, daughter of Keith and Betsy Adams, Austin College, medicine;  

New Braunfels, Texas

Daniel Phipps, New Braunfels Senior High School, son of Tom and Sylvia Phipps, Tono Music Group in Round Rock, Texas, music industry;  

Paris, Texas

Ernest Cochran, Paris High School, son of Ernie and Pat Cochran, Volunteer Clinic of Cuzco, Peru, work with physician and assist in minor medical procedures;  

Richardson, Texas

Brandon Brown, J.J. Pearce High School, son of Bill and Candy Brown, The United States Mission to the European Union in Burssels, Belgium, international releations and global cultures;  

Rockwall, Texas

Neal Spradlin, Rockwall High School, son of Don and Rowena Spradlin, Brian Adams Agency of Farmers Insurance in Heath, Texas, insurance industry;  

Sherman, Texas

Brooks Burton, Mount Vernon High School, son of Lynnn and Jean Burton, Sherman Community Players in Sherman, children's theatre, technical work, and business operations of the theatre industry;  

Silver City, New Mexico

Anna Howell, Agape Academy, daughter of Anthony and Laura Howell, Dallas Museum of Art, medicine;  

Slidell, Louisiana

Melanie Ogé, Slidell High School, daughter of David and Lee Ogé, Texoma Health Foundation of Denison, Texas, medicine and marketing;  

Southlake, Texas

Kamran Ahmed, Amarillo High School, son of Ahmed Iqbal and Azmat Ahmed, John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, hospital rotations;  

Temple, Texas

Marcela Onyango, Temple High School, daughter of Onyango Okello and Pamela Onyango, Nile River Basin Water Resources in Nairobi, Kenya, environmental science;  

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Meg Gammie, Metro Christian Academy, daughter of John and Nancy Gammie, Texoma Children's Museum in Denison, Texas, working with outreach programs and exhibit maintenance; 

Wichita Falls, Texas

Rebecca Halsey, S H Rider High School, daughter of Torin and Teri Halsey, Experience Corps in Washington, D.C., interaction of government and non-profit sectors;

Casie Luong, S H Rider High School, daughter of Jay and Susan Luong, Little Rose Shelter in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, medicine;  

Wylie, Texas

Robert Black, Lucas Christian Academy, son of Byron and Beth Black, Iglesia Cristo Redentor in Guadalajara, assisting visiting missionary groups with adjustment to Guadalajra culture;

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located approximately 30 minutes north of the greater Dallas metroplex in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges that Change Lives.