Please note that current seniors are not eligible for the Strauss Internship for Social Understanding. Past Strauss interns are also ineligible. Past experience in community service is not required.

How the Program Works
Application Process
Identify an Agency
Selection Timeline
Past Participants

How the Program Works
Interested students design an internship with a Pomona Valley* community service agency of their choice. After identifying an agency, students then work with a supervisor to design an internship that meets the needs of both the student and the agency. This process can be lengthy, so applicants are given until April 10, 2009 to identify an agency and submit an application.

The selection committee considers the applications (early April) and chooses three interns.

Interns begin a ten-week internship following Memorial Day and will work full-time (40 hours/week) while living on campus.

Interns will have a mandatory weekly lunch meeting with a coordinator where they can share their experiences and discuss global community service issues. The coordinator may invite guest speakers from the community service agencies to share first-hand experiences and issues.

Each intern is expected to chronicle his/her experience (photos and text) online by the beginning of the 2008-2009 academic year.

The selection committee prefers that internships be located in the Pomona Valley so students may live on campus and take part in weekly meetings.  However, the committee will consider outside internships provided that the intern addresses how they intend to meet the requirement. Also, housing stipends are not transferable.

Application Process
While appearing complicated, the application process allows the selection committee to thoroughly assess the candidates. Applications will be available on March 27, 2009.

Proposal for Internship/Letter of Support
STEP ONE
Identify a community service agency. There is a list of resources below to assist you in this task.

STEP TWO
Develop a proposal for your internship by designing a program in cooperation with an agency supervisor (not the other way around). The proposal should include the following:
•    Name, address and phone number of the community service agency;
•    Description of the agency including their mission, purpose and clientele served;
•    Name and title of the supervisor
•    A detailed description of the internship tasks/goals;
•    A list of your goals for the internship
•    A ten-week schedule of your work days and hours

STEP THREE
Once you and your supervisor agree on the terms of the internship, have him/her complete a letter of support for your internship.
    
Letters of Reference    
Two letters of reference that support your candidacy for the Strauss Internship for Social Understanding must be provided. References do not necessarily need to be from professors or members of the HMC community.

Short Answers
Please limit your answers to three double-spaced pages:
•    Why do you want to spend ten weeks working at a community service agency?
•    What attracted you to your selected community service agency?
•    Why did you choose this type of community service?
•    What do you expect to learn from your internship? Do you foresee any challenges?

Those Considering Internships Outside of the Pomona Valley
In the past, the selection committee has allowed candidates the option of submitting a community service internship proposal outside the Pomona Valley. Those who submit such applications must explain how they plan to remain engaged in the weekly discussions held at HMC. Interns must advise the selection committee on how they plan to meet this requirement.

Identify an Agency
The following resources may assist you in identifying agencies in the Pomona Valley:

Volunteer Center of the Pomona Valley – a clearinghouse for over 400 community service agencies
436 W. 4th Street, #201
Pomona
(909) 629-1187

The Claremont Colleges Office of the Chaplains
McAlister Center
(909) 621-8685

Pomona Valley Council of Churches
1753 North Park
Pomona
(909) 622-3806

Selection Timeline
Period to Identify and Designate an Agency
March 27 - April 10, 2009

Applications Due to DOS Office
Friday, April 10, 2009, 10 p.m.

Review of Applications and Interviews
Early April

Final Decisions Announced
Early April

Internships Commence
Monday, June 5, 2009

Past Participants
Summer 2008
Ian Wright - Projects Abroad Inc., New York, NY
Celeste Conti - Dogs for Diabetics, Concord, CA
Nadia Abuelezam & Seanna Vine - The AIDS Support Operation (TASO) - Uganda, Africa

Summer 2007
Patrick Foley - Intern, Hope for Uganda, Africa
Benjamin Margolis -  Habitat for Humanity, Pomona, CA
Mariam Youssef - Peace Over Violence, Pasadena, CA
Vanessa Yu - Red Cross, Claremont Chapter

Summer 2006
Trang Pham – Intern, American Red Cross, Chisolm Trail Chapter, Fort Worth, TX
Matt Gnaizda – Intern, New Tang Dynasty TV, New York
Elorm Foli – SAT teacher and counselor, Upward Bound, Harvey Mudd College
Shelly DeFord – Science teacher, Summerbridge, Sacramento (college-prep program for academically gifted and ethnically diverse students)
Herbie Huff – Gawad Kalinga, Philippines (non-profit agency dedicated to alleviating Filipino poverty by rebuilding slums)

Summer 2005
Alex Izsak – Inland Valley Council of Churches, Pomona; Los Angeles County Office of Education
Renee Campbell – Christ’s Church of Federal Way, Seattle
Gena Urowsky – Girl Scouts, Spanish Trails Council, Montclair, CA

Summer 2004
Gregor Passolt – Lambert House, Seattle (center for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth)
Dana Mohamed – Shoes that Fit, Claremont
Ryan Yamada – Inland Valley Council of Churches, Pomona

Summer 2003
Cassie Fairchild - Upland YMCA                                    
Faye Massen - United Way, Rancho Cucamonga
Mele Sato - Pomona Adult Education Center

Summer 2002
Russ Rutledge – OPARC, Montclair                              
Alexis Utvich - San Gabriel Valley Ranger District
Jay Chow - Colorado Natural Resources Department

Summer 2001
Lydia Son - Children's Institute International, Los Angeles
Steve Hickman - Bellingham Parks and Recreation, WA

Summer 2000
Chris Hanusa - Frick Environmental Center, Pittsburgh
Guillaume Mauger - Habitat for Humanity, San Francisco
Anand Patil - Children's Hospital, Detroit