Support the Student Internship Endowment Fund
April 13, 2021
Greetings!
Thanks to a very generous gift in memory of alumnus, Joel N. Lello, as well as through the generosity of others, I am pleased to share that we are over a third of the way to our $30,000 initial goal to create the Student Internship Endowment Fund! It is my hope that you will help us not only reach this goal but exceed it, so that this fund can support even more students well into the future.
Joel was excited to be accepted into Unity College not long after the College’s founding. Joel was a member of the Class of 1973 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Geology. A proud alum, Joel wore his class ring during his entire adult life. As a student, Joel participated in an internship with Bryant Pond Conservation Camp which turned out to be an invaluable experience for him. He enjoyed the work, made lifelong friends, and was proud to serve as a mentor to youth with an interest in science. According to Joel’s sister, Jayne, Unity College gave him the opportunity to learn outside the classroom, build relationships with people from different walks of life, and graduated feeling prepared to do meaningful work. Jayne shared that Joel enjoyed supporting Unity College and watching it grow while advancing its mission and reputation as America’s Environmental College.
As Joel recognized, internships are an integral and exciting part of the Unity College experience. They help students achieve deliberate learning goals, provide a structured reflection on career choices, and allow for focused professional development and networking. With Unity College’s new calendar, students have the flexibility to take advantage of internships throughout the year without having to put their degree on hold. This also gives students the ability to accept job offers to stay on as an employee with their internship organization while completing their degree.
Conversely, our internship program supports employers by providing Unity College interns who are excited to bring their newly acquired skills and knowledge to help organizations advance in their mission and goals. Many of our partners have enjoyed working with Unity College students and alumni over the years and have offered them permanent employment.
Unfortunately, many of our students cannot take advantage of the best internship to fit their academic and professional goals due to lack of access to funding for travel, accommodations, and other living expenses. Imagine where students could be placed and where their careers could take them if their internship opportunities were not restricted by lack of funding. This is where you can make a direct impact on the lives of our students!
A gift of any amount will allow us to get closer to our initial goal and launch this endowed scholarship. When we reach $30,000, we will be able to grant 10 scholarships of $1,500 each, annually. Surpassing this minimum target will allow us to grow the endowment so we can assist many more of our students.
I hope you will follow the example set by Joel and his family by making your gift today in support of our students as they work towards achieving their ideal internship.
With Pride,
Dr. Melik Peter Khoury
President
