This past summer, Bates offered 128 Purposeful Work internships in 18 states, the District of Columbia, and seven countries outside the U.S.
Another five dozen students did funded research on campus with Bates professors across 14 academic disciplines, or had off-campus academic internships. Other students held internships with community organizations through Bates’ Harward Center for Community Partnerships.
Last week, we shared stories and photographs of students who had summer internships outside Maine. This week, it’s back to Maine, and to Bates, for Part 2.
‘I’m glad to be making the most of these opportunities’ — Pat Cullinane ’25
The place: A research lab in Bonney Science Center at Bates
The job: Cullinane, a biochemistry major from Quincy, Mass., worked with four fellow students in the research lab of Associate Professor of Biology and Neuroscience Martin Kruse.
The research team is studying an important but not fully understood protein found in our cells that might play a critical role in several neurological conditions, such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
Cullinane has his sights set on graduate school, so the professional experience of working in the Kruse lab has “been a great tool for gaining exposure with techniques and what a layout would look like in a post-grad lab as opposed to undergrad labs.”
One of Cullinane’s research partner was Sebenele Lukhele ’26, a biological chemistry major from Manzini, Eswatini, “This research lets me solve real-life problems in biochemistry. Plus, the community here has made the experience much more than just lab work — it’s a whole growth process.”
Cullinane has enjoyed going from neophyte to now standing on his own two feet as a researcher. “A lot of labs are set up for you, but in this lab, you have a lot of control. You can share your ideas and guide your experience,” he says.
The quote: “Learning how to design your own experiments is pretty awesome.”
‘My goal was to ensure they were having the best experience possible’ — Chidera Kalu-Uka ’27
The place: Tree Street Youth in Lewiston
The job: A sociology major from Katy, Texas, Kalu-Uka was a Harward Center Summer Fellow at Tree Street Youth, where she supervised a group of third- and fourth-graders, becoming a mentor, friend, and active participant in their growth and joy.
Before Kalu-Uka fell in love with Bates, she fell in love with Lewiston, and a summer spent at downtown Tree Street Youth “has only strengthened that love.”
Under the leadership of executive director Julia Sleeper ‘08, who co-founded the organization with Kim Sullivan ‘13, Tree Street is a cornerstone youth support and aspirations program located in downtown Lewiston. “As someone who moved to this country only six years ago, I feel resonance with the impact Tree is making,” said Kalu-Uka.
The Bates Center for Purposeful Work encourages a developmental approach to the search for a rewarding career, with ample opportunities for both discovery and reflection. Kalu-Uka’s summer at Tree Street prompted her to reflect on her academic and career goals, which had been focused solely on pre-health and public health.
She now plans to major in sociology, minor in education, and stay on a pre-health and public-health track and pursue a career “dedicated to working with underserved communities, whether that be in public health, healthcare, or education.”
The quote: “I’ve discovered that my interests can intersect without sacrificing any of them.”
‘I’ve been infected with the pure joy and curiosity of the kids’ — Shenandoah Waugh ’26
The place: Harpswell (Maine) Heritage Land Trust
The job: As a Purposeful Work intern who had never worked with children before, Shenandoah (Shenny) Waugh took on the daunting task of teaching, guiding, and herding 16 young children, ages 4 to 6, for five days a week, at the land trust’s popular Nature Day Camp, located along the Maine coast.
“It was challenging and intimidating,” says Waugh, who discovered that working with children sparked a feeling of purpose. “ Working with young kids is so engaging, fun, and refreshing.”
The camp provides screen-free opportunity to engage with nature. As technology continues to create a barrier between ourselves and the natural world, “it is so important to offer these young kids an experience where fun is tech-free, and we embrace free exploration, curiosity, and even boredom,” Waugh says.
A double major in chemistry and European studies from Lyons, Colo., Waugh is a Bates Outing Club outdoor program manager and a Registered Maine Guide. “Engaging with the BOC on campus has shown me what outdoor education looks like and potential career paths.”
The quote: “Working with young kids outdoors feels even more purposeful.”
‘I always look forward to the camaraderie’ — Bora Lugunda ’25
The place: Ladd Library, Bates College
The job: For Lugunda, a history major from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, this was her third summer working on campus as a field assistant for Information and Library Services.
Paul Adutwum ’27 of Tepa, Ghana, split his time between the ILS Help Desk in Ladd and the Harward Center, where he supported projects related to community-engaged learning and research. He also wrote blog posts featuring student experiences in community engagement.
“I have a pretty awesome set of bosses and really feel like an appreciated part of the team,” says Lugunda, who takes care of computer setups and upgrades for faculty, staff, and labs. “I always look forward to the camaraderie through restaurant suggestions, conversations about AI, and random banter.”
Adutwum said he was “thrilled” to be on campus, and was looking forward to another gig, a soon-to-begin research project on Ulam-like sequences (patterns and rules found in number sequences built from sums) with Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics Senia Sheydvasser.
The quote: “I am looking forward to an exciting and productive summer!” — Adutwum
‘It made me think of my own position and privileges in the context of a bigger community’ — Ganga Corsaro ’26
The place: St. Mary’s Nutrition Center in Lewiston
The job: As Purposeful Work interns, Corsaro, a double major in environmental studies and Chinese from St. Paul, Minn., and Haley Wilkins ’25, an American Studies major from Hoboken, N.J., saw and supported the growth of 10 local community gardens.
They mulched, weeded, cleared, and created garden beds; provided community gardeners with seeds and seedlings; handled food deliveries for the Nutrition Center’s food pantry; and supported youth programs at Geiger and Montello elementary schools and at Hillview Resource Center.
For Wilkins, the internship revealed the importance of community and place to her own purposeful work. She also valued how the Nutrition Center constantly adapts to “new needs and circumstances with collaborative brainstorming.” Corsaro learned that her own purposeful work will need to be “proactive and intentional — actively contributing in ways that reflect who you are and what you stand for.”
The experience deepened Corsaro’s appreciation of her adopted hometown of Lewiston. “The community’s diversity and strength, and the work people are doing to improve their own lives and the community as a whole, really surprised me.”
The quote: “It sounds simple to some, but witnessing seeds growing and producing food has been more exciting and rewarding than I expected.” — Wilkins
‘It’s very beautiful, and obviously different from fall or winter’ — Harris Ramlee ’25
The place: Bonney Science Center
The job: Ramlee, a biology major from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, spent his summer on campus working as a technician in the college’s vivarium.
In his downtime, Ramlee enjoyed strolling around campus, soaking in the summer weather — his first summer spent in the U.S. His friend Paul Zhou ’25, a psychology major from Beijing, agrees with the weather assessment. In winter, there’s snow and less light, but “in the summer, it looks absolutely beautiful.”
Ramlee has also taken time to explore Maine, hiking and visiting the beach. “It’s very, very amazing,” he says.
The quote: “The campus looks absolutely beautiful.” — Zhou
