Internships
Objectives
As interns, honors students develop career readiness as they apply their learning to real-world, professional experiences. Students emerge from their internships having strengthened core competencies, as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), and made progress on the program's Enhanced Learning Experience requirement.
Current Opportunities
- Application due date: Sept. 1, 2024
- Internship length: Fall 2024 semester
Friends of the Kaw, a local riverkeeping organization that advocates for the health and protection of the Kansas River, seeks a communications intern to fill gaps where extra help is needed, specifically around activities that meet the organization's mission. Duties can include map creation, data entry, communication tasks, or event assistance. This position will be mostly remote, with in-person meetings taking place throughout the semester in Lawrence.
Applicants should provide a cover letter and résumé to Friends of the Kaw's general email address at info@kansasriver.org.
- Application due date: Sept. 1, 2024
- Internship length: Fall 2024 semester
Just Food, Douglas County's food bank, seeks to fill a position that will focus primarily on development and/or marketing responsibilities. Duties can include graphic design, grant research and writing, social media campaigns, or event assistance. The intern will work out of Just Food's office in Lawrence.
Applicants should provide a cover letter and résumé to Just Food's director of development, Ali Curbow at development@justfoodks.org.
- Application due date: October 1, 2024
- Internship length: Spring 2025 semester
Kansas Action for Children, a nonpartisan children's advocacy group, offers a legislative internship that exposes students to various policy areas including health, education, childcare, economic security, budget, and tax. Responsibilities may include capturing notes while monitoring committees and chamber floor debates; tracking key bills as they move through the legislative process; interacting with state senators, representatives, and partner organizations; and supporting KAC and partners with submitting testimony on key bills. The intern must be able to drive to Topeka two days per week for in-person committee sessions at the Capitol.
Applicants should provide a cover letter and résumé to KAC's director of human resources and operations, Jami Jones at jami@kac.org.
- Application due date: Sept. 1, 2024
- Internship length: Fall 2024 semester
Mid-America Regional Council, which describes itself as an "association of city and county governments and the metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region," offers several exciting internship opportunities for undergraduate students looking to gain experience working in a multifaceted regional nonprofit organization on environmental issues. Each intern will work under the supervision of the program managers/director for a specific area, which applicants should identify in their cover letter. This internship can satisfy the Professional Development & Social Entrepreneurship Enhanced Learning Experience (ELE).
Applicants should first review the full position description (PDF) to review areas of interest, then provide a cover letter and résumé to Amanda Graor, Deputy Director of Research Services and Chief Innovation Officer with MARC at agraor@marc.org.
Qualifications
The opportunities listed here share common qualifications that interested students should possess:
- Active status, good academic standing, and evidence of progression in the University Honors Program
- Excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills
- Ability to work remotely and independently, and to multitask effectively
- Dependability, positivity, and a sense of humor
- Proficiency in Microsoft and Google productivity software, as well as social media platforms and tools
Organizations may also seek applicants with majors relative to their mission or the position.
Compensation
The honors program is able to support students pursuing the above experiences with Honors Opportunity Awards designated for nonprofit internships. Individual internship opportunities may also include additional financial support provided by the organization.
Questions about the nonprofit internships coordinated by the University Honors Program can be directed to the program's student experience coordinator, Preston Braun.