HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 4, 2017 – High Point University senior Rebecca Colwell spent her summer organizing and preparing for new volunteers through her internship with the Ronald McDonald House New York.
The nonprofit management and music major from West Pittston, Pennsylvania, served as the volunteer management intern at the organization’s New York City location. She worked directly with the volunteer department on a variety of tasks, including preparing for fundraising events and developing guidelines for future volunteers.
“I felt confident going into my internship, because HPU has provided me with the knowledge I need to understand the way nonprofits function so I could be an asset in the workplace,” says Colwell.
The internship helped to develop her fundraising skills. She worked on Ronald McDonald House of New York’s annual Heroes volunteer event, which raised more than half a million dollars to benefit the volunteer programs. She also monitored an online silent auction and used her communication skills while interacting with staff and recruiting new volunteers.
Additionally, Colwell gained valuable career experience by working in Raiser’s Edge, a database system used by many fundraising organizations. She plans to use the experience she’s gained to pursue a career as the development director for a nonprofit.
HPU’s Office of Career and Professional Development supported Colwell in her internship search by helping her prepare her resume and cover letter before submitting applications. She was also supported by the mentorship of Dr. Pamela Palmer, assistant professor of human relations.
“Dr. Palmer has made a huge impact on the way I look at nonprofits,” Colwell says. “She has helped me get to where I am today from the lessons I learned in her classroom and the time she spent helping me through the internship application process.”