The Power of Interim Externships

At Mount Vernon, students don’t just prepare for the future — they step into it. Through our expansive network of industry leaders and real-world learning experiences, we provide students with opportunities that go beyond traditional academics. Our commitment to external partnerships ensures that students are not only equipped with knowledge but also empowered with experience—making them globally competitive and engaged citizen leaders.

One of the most dynamic programs at Mount Vernon is our Internship Program, which offers students multiple avenues to explore their interests, develop skills, and build professional connections. Upper School students have the opportunity to participate in Internships and Externships (which mostly occur during Interim). Both internships and externships provide valuable career exposure, but they differ in purpose, responsibilities, duration, and structure.

• Internships focus on gaining hands-on experience and developing skills within a field. Interns actively contribute to projects, often over a semester or summer, and may be paid or unpaid. For example, a marketing intern might create social media content or conduct market research.
• Externships emphasize observation and learning, allowing students to shadow professionals and gain insight into a career without direct work responsibilities. These short-term experiences, typically unpaid, help students explore industries. A medical extern, for instance, might observe a doctor during patient consultations but won’t perform procedures.

These opportunities bridge the gap between classroom learning and career readiness, allowing students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings while gaining invaluable mentorship and insights.

A Record-Breaking Year of Opportunities

In 2025, Mount Vernon saw an unprecedented 83 Upper School students participate in week-long externships during Interim—the largest cohort in school history. From corporate headquarters and nonprofit organizations to creative studios and government offices, students immersed themselves in real-world experiences that provided them with essential skills, valuable connections, and a competitive edge in their future careers.

These externships reinforce Mount Vernon’s belief that education should be experiential, relevant, and purpose-driven. Through these partnerships, our students develop confidence, adaptability, and problem-solving skills—qualities that top universities and employers seek in the next generation of leaders.

Externship Highlights: Real-World Learning in Action

Exploring Politics and Policy

Nuna Adovor, Grade 11 – GA General Assembly
Nuna externed with Melanie Jacobson, Chief of Staff for Representatives Karen Lupton and Shea Roberts. She researched legislative bills on topics such as mental health, reproductive rights, and education while also creating infographics and newsletters. “My biggest takeaway is the value of connection and advocacy in politics because these foster meaningful change and empower communities to shape their futures with equity and justice.”

Ben Perry, Grade 12 – Representative Gottheimer
In his second year interning for Rep. Gottheimer, Ben engaged in constituent communication, attended congressional briefings, and prepared legislative memos. “One of the most incredible moments was standing on the House floor during a live vote. This internship has deepened my understanding of government and policymaking.”

Understanding Meteorology and Weather Forecasting

Daisy Whittington, Grade 11 – National Weather Service
Daisy spent four days shadowing lead meteorologists and forecasters, gaining hands-on experience with radar watch, aviation forecasting, and long-term weather predictions. She also had an exclusive one-day shadowing experience at The Weather Channel. “Seeing the depth of their work firsthand reinforced my passion for forecasting and reminded me that, with dedication and hard work, I can achieve my dreams!”

Behind the Scenes in Film, Television, and Theatre

Jessie Fentress, Grade 10 – Catapult Acting Studios
Jessie played a key role in film production, assisting with filming, sound operation, and studio management. “Seeing how everything is done business-wise is really insightful,” she shared.

Cooper Walker (Grade 11), Dareen Cheong (Grade 12), Kate Kaufman (Grade 9) | Maro Ogufere (Grade 10) – City Springs Theatre Company
This group of students has been shadowing professionals at City Springs Theatre Company, gaining hands-on experience with set construction, costume design, and the technical aspects of theatrical production. They observed key rehearsals, including Sitzprobe (orchestra integration) and a designer run-through. “It was heartwarming to see people from different backgrounds work together to produce something incredible. The dedication and passion they bring to the craft is inspiring.”

Helen Chapman, Grade 12 – Elite Studios
Helen has been assisting with costume organization and hip-hop class preparation at Elite Studios. She has also supported elementary dance students, helping to refine their performances.

Supporting School Fundraising

Caroline Putnam, Grade 12 – Community Giving and Impact
Caroline worked on event planning and donor engagement for the Mustang Rally, helping with thank-you letters, auction items, and alumni outreach. “Building my network on LinkedIn will be extremely helpful for when I go to college and enter the working world.”

Sports Performance and Training

Alexis Smith, Grade 12 – Takeoff Track
Alexis assisted coaches by setting up equipment, timing workouts, and coordinating warm-ups. “One of my biggest takeaways is how determined the athletes are. The relationship between the team and the coaches is awesome—they really push each other to be their best.”

Eli Diaz, Grade 10 – Form Physical Therapy
Eli has been engaging with patients and learning about physical therapy protocols, including targeted stretches for muscle injuries. “I didn’t realize how much postoperative guidance from surgeons influences a patient’s PT plan. It’s been a great experience getting to see the connection between recovery and treatment firsthand!”

Isabella Durkee, Grade 9 – Roswell Youth Sports
Isabella organized games and developed marketing materials for youth sports programs. “This externship has taught me the importance of teamwork and communication across different sports programs.”

Learning the Real Estate Market

Sydney Morton, Grade 11 – HOME Real Estate
Sydney gained first-hand knowledge of real estate transactions, preparing homes for sale, meeting with clients, and designing marketing brochures. “Before my externship, I thought real estate was just about showing houses, but I’ve learned it takes years of planning and trust between the agent and client.”

Vedika Soni, Grade 9 – Keller Williams
Vedika explored the creative side of real estate, focusing on design and renovation. She worked on material selection, layout planning, and property staging. “A trip to Blue Ridge showed me how staging a rental differs from a personal home. Before this, I hadn’t realized how every small detail impacts a space—it’s such a dynamic and exciting field!”

Caleigh Clark, Grade 12 – Cushman & Wakefield
Caleigh worked on loan file organization for secondary market securitization, gaining firsthand experience in commercial real estate operations. She also toured buildings to study mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. “I’ve realized how much manual work goes into organizing files—CRE is ripe for innovation! My biggest takeaway is that Corporate America isn’t just meetings and expense reports—there’s so much more to it.”

Anna Hollis, G11 & Avery Clockadale, G10 – Atlanta Fine Homes
Anna and Avery externed with Atlanta Fine Homes, gaining experience in property listings, market research, and client services. Their time with the company has provided valuable insight into the fast-paced real estate industry and the importance of communication and attention to detail.

Nonprofit Work and Community Impact

Emelia Anderson, Grade 11 – Center for Healthy Families
Emelia supported a nonprofit that assists pregnant and parenting teens. She attended meetings, reviewed cases, and visited schools. “My biggest takeaway has been learning about government assistance gaps and how nonprofits function to fill those needs.”

Public Health Research and Policy

Maya Chopra, Grade 11 – CDC
Maya is shadowing Dr. Srinivasan at the CDC, attending meetings, connecting with public health professionals, and conducting her own research project. With mentorship from experts, she is learning about survey design, data collection, and the publishing process. “This experience has opened my eyes to the many career paths in public health and given me hands-on experience in research. It’s been incredible to see how impactful this work is!”

Hands-On Experience in Construction

Henry Maxwell, Grade 11 – Integra
Henry shadowed business developers and project managers, visiting job sites and learning about large-scale construction projects. “Today, I visited a medical office build and learned about the superintendent’s role in overseeing a site.”

Ella Escher, Grade 9 – E. Escher Inc.
Ella has been gaining hands-on experience in commercial engineering, exploring prototype designs and learning about plumbing and HVAC systems. She has also reviewed contracting proposals, estimations, and the process of creating and sending contracts to subcontractors. “It’s been fascinating to see how projects move from concept to execution and to learn about the behind-the-scenes work that keeps everything running smoothly!”

Andrew Moran (Grade 10), Bobby Bastek (Grade 10), Gabe Alterman (Grade 11), Luke Schaumburg (Grade 10) – Home Depot
Andrew, Bobby, Gabe, and Luke have been interning at Home Depot, where they’ve gained hands-on experience in sales and retail operations. They’ve demonstrated tools for sales interactions, created store displays, organized inventory, and worked on their resumes. The team also had the opportunity to visit Home Depot headquarters, further expanding their knowledge of the company’s operations.

Brand Marketing and Communications

Sonoma Peterson, Grade 11 – Brand Office
Sonoma developed skills in branding, marketing, and media strategy, contributing to business storytelling and student engagement initiatives.

Aviation and Engineering with Delta

Tripp Jackson (Grade 11), Sandy Johnson (Grade 10), Dustin Kytle (Grade 11), and Evan Pritchett (Grade 11) – Delta
These students shadowed various departments at Delta, with the highlight being a behind-the-scenes tour of the Technical Operations facility. “Seeing a live jet engine test was incredible!” Tripp shared.

Archival Work at the Connecticut State Library

Mariella Satelmajer, Grade 10 – Connecticut State Library
Mariella interned as an archivist, working closely with records management experts, historians, and librarians. She processed a collection of WWII veteran correspondence, piecing together his life and heroic achievements. “On my final day, I attended an event at the Capitol honoring female veterans, where I met inspiring figures, including a WWII Marine. It was a truly unforgettable experience.”

Hands-On Experience in Healthcare

Raya Leibowitz, Grade 12 – Laureate Medical Group (Sleep Medicine)
Raya interned in sleep medicine, assisting with insurance approvals, patient inquiries, and medical record management. “I’ve learned how critical organization and communication are in helping patients get the care they need. It’s been eye-opening to see the behind-the-scenes work of healthcare.”

Cora Champney, Grade 10 – Resurgens Orthopedic and Sports Medicine
Cora observed multiple orthopedic surgeries, including knee and hip procedures, and shadowed anesthesiologists, physician assistants, and physical therapists. “My biggest takeaway has been learning how to communicate with patients to keep them calm and cooperative—it’s just as important as the medical procedures themselves.”

Siena Tiffin, Grade 10 – Northside Hospital
Siena shadowed a cardiologist and a general surgeon, observing both clinical rounds and hospital procedures. She listened to heart murmurs, witnessed emergency cardiac care, and observed multiple surgeries, including a double mastectomy and spinal procedures. “This experience confirmed my passion for medicine. Seeing so many aspects of patient care has shown me just how many opportunities there are in the medical field.”

Lucy Solh, Grade 9 – The Blood and Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia
Lucy interned at a private clinic within Northside Hospital, working with cancer patients and shadowing doctors in inpatient care and the ICU. “This experience taught me the power of empathy in patient care. I saw how teamwork plays a huge role in healthcare and how hope and positivity can truly impact a patient’s journey.”

Supporting Young Parents and Community Health

Emelia Anderson, Grade 11 – Center for Healthy Families
Emelia interned at a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting pregnant and parenting teens by connecting them with essential resources. She attended case meetings, observed presentations on child safety, and gained insight into nonprofit operations. “One of my biggest takeaways has been learning about the grant process and how nonprofits fill the gaps in government assistance. This experience has given me a deeper understanding of the challenges young parents face and the vital role of community support.”

Exploring AI and Robotics at Georgia Tech

Grayson Richmond, Grade 10 – Georgia Tech Robotics
Grayson interned with the CORE robotics lab at Georgia Tech, gaining hands-on experience in machine learning and artificial intelligence. He attended lab meetings, sat in on college-level classes, and studied Large Language Models under expert mentorship. “This experience has given me an invaluable glimpse into both the future of AI and what college life is like. It has been an incredibly educational and inspiring opportunity.”

Why It Matters: A Competitive Edge for the Future

Mount Vernon’s Internship Program is more than just an opportunity—it’s a launchpad. These hands-on experiences provide students with:

• Industry exposure to help them refine their career aspirations.
• Professional mentorship to develop skills and build valuable networks.
• Real-world problem-solving experiences that translate into leadership and innovation.

Through immersive internships and externships, our students are gaining the confidence, adaptability, and expertise necessary to thrive in college, careers, and beyond. By fostering partnerships with leading organizations and industry experts, Mount Vernon is preparing students to be future-ready leaders and engaged global citizens.