Pomona College recently highlighted the expansive reach of its flagship experiential learning initiative, noting that nearly one hundred undergraduate students and their respective host organizations benefited from the Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP) over the summer term. Designed to create a mutually beneficial arrangement for all participants, PCIP funding enables scholars to accept unpaid or low-compensation roles that might otherwise be financially out of reach, while host entities receive motivated young professionals eager to absorb new knowledge and contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects. Four distinct students—Malu Estoducto from the class of 2027, Freddie Ambrose from the class of 2027, Ashley Dangol from the class of 2028, and Carlin Lee from the class of 2028—secured placements within government agencies or government-adjacent institutions, allowing them to chart future career paths supported directly by this financial backing.

Estoducto, who is pursuing a double major in economics and politics and hails from Santa Maria, Brazil, first discovered her prospective workplace while attending a local politics course taught at neighboring Claremont McKenna College. Recognizing that Los Angeles County represents a massive jurisdiction with an immense constituency, Estoducto secured an internship with the office of Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. Her primary assignment centered on participatory budgeting, which is an inclusive mechanism enabling everyday community residents to decide how public funds get distributed. Traveling daily across different field offices, Estoducto attended local gatherings connected to these budgeting initiatives and participated in neighborhood walks to listen directly to the concerns of constituents. Describing the setup as an exemplary participatory model of democracy, she emphasized its value in uplifting historically marginalized populations so they can guide choices impacting their neighborhoods.

When she was not out in the community, Estoducto engaged in thorough policy research investigating how participatory budgeting functions in alternative municipalities to refine and strengthen the process within Los Angeles County. She expressed gratitude for being included in consequential meetings where she truly felt like a valued team member trusted with impactful responsibilities. Serving simultaneously as the student body president at Pomona College, Estoducto noted that the summer experience illustrated how collaborative groups tackle complex hurdles, thereby boosting her leadership assurance and reducing graduation anxieties. For those looking to excel in public service and competitive admissions tracks, mastering Ivy League strategies often parallels the meticulous planning demonstrated by students securing these high-profile government placements. She concluded that she now feels significantly better prepared for post-graduate life and recognizes a viable professional future for herself within local government administration.

Ambrose, a philosophy major, traveled back to his hometown of Longmont, Colorado, to complete an internship at Rocky Mountain National Park. With long-term aspirations of entering the teaching profession, Ambrose joined the park’s interpretation, outreach, and education division, relishing the chance to practice interactive instruction with audiences spanning from toddlers to senior citizens. His educational duties ranged from teaching visitors about indigenous local flora and fauna to leading astronomy and astrology discussions during evening sky viewing events. Furthermore, he designed independent programming, creatively utilizing his philosophy background to host a specialized pop-up workshop focusing on wildflowers alongside the intricate relationship connecting knowledge with aesthetic beauty. Given recent budgetary reductions affecting national park operations, the financial backing provided by PCIP proved essential in establishing an internship that helped fill operational gaps. Ambrose shared that serving a park system he has cherished since childhood in a location close to his home was an incredible privilege.

Dangol, an economics major originally from Richmond, California, dedicated her summer to the Texas Census Institute (TxCI), an independent and non-partisan entity working to guarantee an exact and complete census enumeration across Texas by the year 2030. Discovering this opportunity through the institution’s Career Development Office, Dangol connected with Brandolyn Thomas from the class of 2024, who operates as a program and insights manager at TxCI and guided Dangol toward the development sector of the organization. Expressing appreciation for the comprehensive view she gained regarding institutional fundraising, Dangol noted that conducting grant research was an entirely novel skill for her. Her daily responsibilities encompassed supporting fundraising campaigns, outreach initiatives, formal research, and partnership expansions. A major component of her workload involved helping the institute integrate artificial intelligence into daily administrative routines, allowing her to master various modern technological tools. This summer engagement helped crystallize her personal strengths and interests, inspiring her to pursue development economic research in future endeavors.

Lee, a chemistry major from Palo Alto, California, undertook advanced scientific work examining the protein crystallography of extremophile organisms situated at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, which functions as a Department of Energy national facility managed by Stanford University. This placement expanded upon undergraduate laboratory research she routinely conducts at Pomona College centered primarily on isolating and purifying proteins. At SLAC, she successfully crystallized target proteins prior to gathering experimental data. Emphasizing the technical nature of the work, Lee explained that utilizing a synchrotron beamline is mandatory for collecting synchrotron data, making the hands-on experience of operating the software and gathering the measurements herself exceptionally rewarding. Although she already intended to pursue a doctoral degree in biochemistry, this summer engagement cemented her desire to specialize specifically in protein crystallography.

Facilitation for Lee’s placement occurred when Professor of Chemistry Matthew Sazinski, who serves as her faculty advisor at Pomona, reached out directly to a former collaborator who happened to be the mentor of Lee at SLAC. Now that the practical laboratory phase has concluded, Lee is collaborating closely with her mentor to draft a formal research manuscript for submission to an undergraduate scientific journal. She reiterated that obtaining external funding through the institutional program was crucial for making her participation at a major federal research facility financially feasible. To review the original announcement, check the official portal for complete details.

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