Ella Wydra

What is your internship this summer, and what are your basic duties?

My internship was with the nonprofit CREATE! (Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology for the Environment). My basic duties included grant opportunity research and campaigning with Google Nonprofit and Google Ads, as well as social media campaigning for fundraising and new donor opportunities.

What’s the best part of your internship?

The best part was challenging myself to explore my capabilities with highly independent and creative work while still representing the goals of the organization. Getting to know the inner workings of CREATE! and all the work they do was a great opportunity for me to learn about nonprofit sustainability work as well as expand my personal independent project management skills.

How has Lewis & Clark supported you in the process of finding and securing your internship?

Lewis & Clark provided me with more than one opportunity to work with CREATE! through both a Grant Writing class as well as the Bates Center Summer Sustainability Internship class. Faculty have helped me expand my networking abilities, improve my resume and cover letter writing, and learn how to interact with organizations in the professional realm.

How do you see this internship leading to a career in your chosen field and aiding in your overall career development?

I am interested in pursuing a career in sustainability and environmental management, and this internship has shown me the extensive groundwork required to do this kind of work. Nonprofit work is extremely multifaceted and requires time and much organizational management, and I have gained a better understanding of what it takes to successfully aid both nature and communities in the nonprofit sector.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience?

I have found much value in time management and professional communication. It is important to be able to be creative in your problem solving, but also utilize your colleagues and team as multiple perspectives can lead to more universal outcomes. Finding balance between the two is a useful skill for the professional world.