At the Farm, Market, or Office, Student Interns Make Local Impact
Every summer, St. Lawrence students immerse themselves in the North Country community while working alongside local organizers, advocates, farmers, and business leaders, thanks to the St. Lawrence University Public Interest Corps (SLUPIC).
In addition to funding supporting their cost of living over the summer, SLUPIC provides housing on campus, allowing interns to enjoy the hidden gems of a North Country summer alongside their peers. As they travel across the region on work assignments, organize data and findings for St. Lawrence County policymakers, or learn more about local sustainable food systems, student interns uncover a new perspective on the North Country and strengthen connections between St. Lawrence and the surrounding community.
After a busy summer, SLUPIC interns shared some of their biggest takeaways, favorite projects, memorable local adventures, and more.
Zach Jaworski ’25
Major/Minors: Psychology major, Government, German Studies, and Performance and Communication Arts triple minor
Hometown: North Collins, New York
SLUPIC Placement: Intern at the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce
Why did you apply to work with an organization in the North Country?
I really wanted to leave St. Lawrence with a greater understanding of the North Country. The University is an amazing place to be, however, but I think there’s so much to gain from immersing yourself in off-campus spaces. Personally, I wanted to feel more like a part of the surrounding community.
What was an average day at your internship like?
An average day at the Chamber didn’t really exist. Most of the summer was spent applying skills I learned at St. Lawrence to a wide array of tasks and projects. Some days were quieter and primarily focused on researching needs and connecting with local businesses. Other days saw me traveling across St. Lawrence County. For example, one week I was in Massena to meet with a member and tour one of Massena’s aluminum factories.
What project or task did you particularly enjoy working on?
I've really enjoyed helping improve the Chamber's publications. One of my passions is publications and it was really cool to help bring that to the Chamber. I helped revamp the template for the newsletter, which will both improve its readability and make it easier for my boss to do the layout once he gathers content. I also greatly enjoyed visiting different towns and businesses, which helped me to broaden my perspective on the North Country.
What have you learned about the North Country community through this internship?
I've learned how important it is to value your fellow community members. St. Lawrence County only works because the people have a real passion for both their community and more importantly one another. In the North Country, you help people whenever you can because you know that they would do the same for you.
What did you learn about your own skills, abilities, and career interests this summer?
I found myself looking forward to opportunities that allowed me to practice skills relevant to my interest in publications. Creating new graphics, drafting posts for social media, writing news-style event recaps, and laying out weekly news bulletins were some of my favorite tasks over the summer.
What did you enjoy most about being on campus over the summer?
Personally, I've been able to explore the region a lot more. I was able to go to the Adirondacks several times and made it up to Ottawa for the first time with my friends to catch a concert. Most of all, I enjoyed meeting so many others who clearly enjoy being at St. Lawrence as much as I do, which helped me form connections that I wouldn't have been able to make had I not spent the summer here.
Kevin Rasamimanana ’26
Major/Minor: Biochemistry major, Public Health minor
Hometown: Antananarivo, Madagascar
SLUPIC Placement: Intern at the Church and Community Program Food Pantry and Thrift Shop
Why did you apply to work with a non-profit in the North Country?
I figured that volunteering in a smaller town like Canton would make a bigger impact than other cities as they are more in need of the services. I also wanted to meet new people outside of the University. And I wanted to get a first-hand insight into a potential career that's relevant to my interests in public health.
What was an average day at your internship like?
On an average day, I interacted with volunteers, updated the Church and Community Program (CCP) databases, and conducted outreach to partners in and around Canton, where we distribute food. I also shelved food and helped to promote our programming on CCP’s social media pages.
What project or task did you particularly enjoy working on?
I loved working on the new outreach we began in Lisbon, New York. As some people can't afford to travel to Canton to pick up food, we started bringing food to them to make it more accessible. During my time with CCP, the number of households taking advantage of this program grew from four to about 16.
What have you learned about the North Country community through this internship?
The North Country is a very tight community where everyone supports and knows each other. Although it seems very calm and quiet, there are a lot of events and organizations to engage with and contribute to.
What did you learn about your own skills, abilities, and career interests this summer?
I improved my communication skills when working with volunteers and community members. I also gained insight into the non-profit world and how to manage common challenges like staff shortages or funding issues. Overall, I’ve discovered a greater incentive to work for a non-profit organization.
What did you enjoy most about being on campus over the summer?
I was able to meet new friends in a less hectic environment than during the school year. I also enjoyed making the most of the pretty North Country summer weather.
Sydney Curley ’25
Majors/Minors: Environmental Studies and Government double major, Economics and History double minor
Hometown: Adams, New York
SLUPIC Placement: Birdsfoot Farm
Why did you apply to work with a non-profit in the North Country?
I applied to this internship because I wanted hands-on experience with a farm practicing regenerative agriculture. I have learned a lot about this topic from an academic standpoint but had no real-world experience with it. I wanted to gain this perspective because I plan to go into public policy and believe it could be very useful for my future career.
What was an average day at your internship like?
My day shifted depending on what I was doing. On Mondays and Thursdays on the farm, we harvested vegetables to sell at the market and use in community share agreements (CSAs). Tuesdays and Fridays were market days, and I occasionally helped to run these. Much of my time was spent tending to the garden and making sure that the beds were well-weeded and watered. I also had virtual days where I worked on my research project.
What project or task did you particularly enjoy working on?
I really enjoyed conducting research on how to stop a disease called fusarium wilt in Spinach. I hypothesized that if spinach is planted alongside lettuce, the weight in pounds harvested would be greater than spinach planted as a stand-alone crop. I learned that lettuce forms a symbiotic relationship with a fungus called mycorrhizae, which increases the surface area of plant absorption and provides a habitat for useful bacteria. My findings ended up not being significant, but I learned a lot in the process, and it was fun to have my own project to work on.
What have you learned about the North Country community through this internship?
I have learned how much this community supports each other. This is a tight-knit community where people rely on each other and come together when needed. This community also understands the importance of locally grown organic food.
What did you learn about your own skills, abilities, and career interests this summer?
While I have enjoyed being outside this summer, I learned that I would prefer to work inside. Most days on the farm were wonderful, but when it was raining or very buggy, I preferred to be inside. I missed the predictability of an office-type job. I am not sure what my career path will be, but I know I can look back at my experience at Birdsfoot for guidance.
What did you enjoy most about being on campus over the summer?
I loved being on campus this summer. I was fortunate to have many of my friends on campus with me and we were able to explore the area together. I spent time hiking in the Adirondacks, exploring local trails, having bonfires, trying new restaurants, and attending local events.
Ryan Krugman ’24
Major: Environmental Studies and Sociology combined major
Hometown: Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland
SLUPIC Placement: Market Event Planner at GardenShare
Why did you apply to work with a non-profit in the North Country?
As an environmental studies and sociology major, I’ve begun to focus on sustainable food systems and the benefits they could have for food-insecure people and the environment. Last summer, I worked with an organization in my hometown of Baltimore called 4MyCiTy which focused on just that. This year, I realized I wanted a similar experience in a different, more rural environment. The opportunity to stay in the North Country and immerse myself in the community was an added bonus.
What was an average day at your internship like?
On farmer’s market days, I spent my mornings crafting content for GardenShare’s Facebook to inform customers what and who is at the market. After that, I helped run the token system at the GardenShare booth where customers can swipe their credit, debit, or SNAP cards to receive tokens that work like cash at the market.
On days in the office, I worked on various different tasks, from organizing music at the market to filing paperwork. As a small non-profit, GardenShare is very collaborative, so I was able to contribute ideas to lots of different projects.
What project or task did you particularly enjoy working on?
For my first few weeks at GardenShare, I spent much of my office days working on a list of events or opportunities in the North Country that could be relevant to our vendors. It is important for vendors to know what events fall on market days so they can plan for increased or decreased attendance. Vendors are also always looking to sell their products at more events but may not have the time to find them.
After many hours looking through the Chamber of Commerce calendar, newspapers, and various organization's events lists, the list was formatted, distributed to the vendors, and will be used in years to come as well!
What have you learned about the North Country community through this internship?
There is way more happening in our community than I ever knew. My first year at St. Lawrence was during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, I was very much a product of the 'SLU Bubble' and never really bothered to immerse myself in the community. But, after learning about events in the area, getting to know vendors, and enjoying my time at the markets, I am determined to get off campus and do more in the community.
What did you learn about your own skills, abilities, and career interests this summer?
I learned I am better at talking with people than I give myself credit for. The best experiences I had during this internship were through talking to farmers at the market or at their farms. I also conducted a series of interviews for an article I am writing for WEAVE News.
I am confident I want sustainable food systems to at least be an aspect of my future career because of my passion for the issues of industrial farming and the benefits of localized agriculture. I am also confident I will not be an event planner. I’m grateful for the chance to learn about the local food system, but glad I ruled out event planning from my list of potential career options.
What did you enjoy most about being on campus over the summer?
The weather was really nice and a welcome break from the heat of Maryland summers. I got to go to the St. Lawrence River almost every weekend which I really enjoyed and would never be able to do during the semester.
Sasha Henderson ’24
Majors/Minor: Psychology and History double major, Public Health minor
Hometown: Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
SLUPIC Placement: Intern for the St. Lawrence County Planning Office
Why did you apply to work with a non-profit in the North Country?
I believed that working in the North Country would be the best way to immerse myself in the local culture and get to know the region better. As a student at St. Lawrence, it’s been easy for me to stay in the little haven of my campus community. While I enjoy the familiarity and comfort of campus, I also think it’s very important to get out and learn more about the vast surrounding area to better understand the North Country’s culture, history, people, and challenges.
What was an average day at your internship like?
At the beginning of my internship, I was working in the office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. I would research the socioeconomic demographics of St. Lawrence County and convert them into Excel sheets and graphs. Toward the end, I transformed those sheets into maps using a GIS (geographic information system) to help others better visualize disparities across the county.
What project or task did you particularly enjoy working on?
Updating the county's Coordinated Transportation Plan and Fair Housing Assessment with the data that I have collected, analyzed, and transformed into visualizations. I have enjoyed learning new programs such as the GIS because I haven't had the opportunity to take classes that use technology like this. I've also really enjoyed interpreting the data to create narratives about the county so local legislators can better understand the needs of people living in St. Lawrence County.
What have you learned about the North Country community through this internship?
I have come to understand that part of the reason that the North Country is so close is because so many people are experiencing socioeconomic challenges that prompt them to rely on others. As a result, the North Country is an extremely tight-knit community where everyone relies on their friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers.
What did you learn about your own skills, abilities, and career interests this summer?
Spending the summer collecting and analyzing data has sparked my interest in understanding demographic data and why certain areas are more or less burdened by challenges like poverty, disability, overcrowded housing conditions, and lack of health care. I have started looking more into the discipline of epidemiology, which deals with the distribution and possible control of health conditions and disease. I’m looking forward to my paleoepidemiology class this fall, as I’m interested in further exploring this discipline and maybe pursuing a career in the field!
What did you enjoy most about being on campus over the summer?
Living with people whom I didn't know before and experiencing what the North Country has to offer alongside them! We've gone on hikes, paddles, swims, and to concerts over the summer, and I'm so thankful that I was able to do so with a group of like-minded people who were driven to work for the betterment of the greater St. Lawrence region.
