Five Sam Houston State University students wrapped up a summer of service to the City of Huntsville by presenting their project-based internship last week, showcasing months of work that connected classroom learning to real-world impact.
The interns—Macey Schank, Audra Munro, Sofia Soto, Ayme Mendoza, and Kelsey Villatoro—major in different disciplines but they shared a common summer experience: making Huntsville a more livable community.
Schank, who interned in the City Manager’s Office, spent her summer digging into data on personnel, salaries, and fee schedules. “It was rewarding to see how much behind-the-scenes work goes into running the city,” she said, noting that her research will inform future administrative decisions.
Munro brought her artistic eye to the Wynne Home Arts Center, where she developed a detailed map of Huntsville’s Cultural District. The map, once published, will guide residents and visitors to the city’s creative spaces. “Art and culture are part of Huntsville’s identity,” Munro said, “and I’m glad to have contributed to highlighting that.”
Soto worked with the Recycling Department, auditing residents’ recycling habits and tracking participation levels across the city. Her findings will help Huntsville improve education efforts and expand its sustainability programs.
Mendoza spent her internship with the Parks Department, pitching in on community events, including the city’s popular July 4th celebration. Villatoro interned with Huntsville Main Street, where she helped organize fall events, managed social media content, and conducted research on downtown businesses.
Some of the students’ intern supervisors were on hand. Amanda Schillaci, from Main Street, attended. Olivia Discon (Assistant to the City Manager) and Sam Masiel (Assistant City Manager), attended to see Schank’s presentation, as well as to support the intern program in general. Sandra Rodriguez, whose work in Human Resources, is crucial to the functioning of both the interns and the City, was also on hand.
The internship is a partnership between the Political Science Department, Chaired by Dr. Jason Enia (who also graciously attended) and the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics. Through this partnership, the students receive at least three hours of credit, while being paid by the City of Huntsville and earning a scholarship through the LEAP Center. Additional interns, not on hand, worked for the state and federal governments.
It is a winning partnership–not just for the students and the City, but also for a community that grows stronger and closer with each project completion.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 