April 25, 2018
Junior Haley Knox will represent Ursuline College and learn about the nonprofit world this summer when she interns at Regina Health Center, a nursing facility in Richfield, Ohio, run by the Sisters of Charity Health System. She is expecting a big change from last summer, when she interned with a private wealth management firm.
“This will be a good opportunity to get a completely different type of experience in a business setting that is focused around values, that is focused around helping others,” she said.
Knox was the one Ursuline student chosen to participate in the Summer Fellows program sponsored by the group Catholic Community Connection (CCC). The Summer Fellows program places eight students from Northeast Ohio’s four Catholic colleges in paid, 10-week internships funded by CCC to address needs of Catholic ministries while introducing young adults to careers in Catholic organizations.
Knox can hardly wait. The Medina native came to Ursuline to play soccer and double major in mathematics and business, focusing on actuarial mathematics. “From my experience in college, figuring out who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do with my life, I realized that wasn’t the path I wanted to take,” she said. A socially conscious international business course convinced her to drop actuarial studies, add a minor in psychology, and pursue business management “focused on values.”
She said she’s looking forward to meeting the Ursuline Sisters living at Regina, all of whom devoted their lives to serving others. She will report to Executive Director Mark Yantek.
The competitive application process for the CCC Summer Fellows program includes essay writing and a series of interviews. Qualified candidates are currently enrolled sophomores, juniors, seniors at Borromeo Seminary, John Carroll University, Notre Dame College and Ursuline.
On Fridays during their internships, the fellows will gather and participate in programming that includes orientation to serving in Catholic ministries, professional and leadership development, and elements of social justice.
“It’ll be great experience,” Knox said. “It’ll be great for applications to grad school too, especially to have that nonprofit experience.”
Ursuline President Sister Christine De Vinne, OSU, Ph.D. said, “The Summer Fellows Program hosted by Catholic Community Connection challenges students to expand their education from the classroom into the real world. Even more importantly, it gives them experience working alongside committed leaders in Catholic institutions, the model for a life of meaningful service.”
