MillbrookEngage Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary
One of the best ways students can prepare for life after school is to experience the real world through employment. That’s why we offer MillbrookEngage, a summer program that connects rising Vth formers to internships at service-focused organizations throughout the U.S. Founded by Herb Shulz ’63 in 2015, MillbrookEngage extends our thriving spirit of community service beyond the confines of campus. This year is particularly exciting, as we celebrated the program’s 10th anniversary.
To date, 110 students have taken part in MillbrookEngage. This past summer, 14 participants practiced real-world difference making at organizations with missions ranging from animal care and advocacy to music performance to local community outreach.
On Thursday, this year’s participants held a chapel talk in the theater. Program Director Dr. Kerry Dore began the talk by expressing her pride for how far the students had come, from not knowing how to write resumes and cover letters when they first met to sharing with the community what they had learned from their internship experiences.
Students spoke in a panel format, explaining their main duties at their respective internships and the missions of the organizations they worked at. They spoke of profound encounters with those they served, the people they served with, and the vocations they were trying out. Most importantly, students expressed excitement at the chance to practice what they’ve learned about community service at Millbrook in a real-world setting.
“I saw MillbrookEngage as an opportunity to culminate my Millbrook experience in a long and lasting way,” said Estee O’Brien “I was able to bring all the lessons I’ve learned here and apply them outside of this community.”
“I saw MillbrookEngage as an opportunity to culminate my Millbrook experience in a long and lasting way,” said Estee O’Brien “I was able to bring all the lessons I’ve learned here and apply them outside of this community.”
Here’s a complete list of this year’s MillbrookEngage participants and a little bit about the internships they completed:
- Max Amsterdam, St. Francis Veterinary Medical Center: Max got hands-on experience by observing surgeries, helping with examinations, handling medical equipment, caring for animals. He also learned about the importance of communication and compassion in the field.
- Josiah Guiles, Millbrook Music Salon: An aspiring musician, Josiah helped with preparing music venues, promoting shows by putting up posters around town, and researching funding opportunities.
- Maggie Jones, Common Good Gardens: Maggie worked directly with the head gardener. She harvested vegetables, boxing them up and delivering them to food pantries to ensure those in need can access healthy meals.
- Dylan McNamara, Yellow Horse Equine: Dylan taught riding lessons, performed daily chores, and assisted by babysitting the director’s 18-month-old child.
- Rachel Nayman, New Jewish Home: Rachel worked with elderly residents, passing out newspapers, leading recreational activities, and generally socializing.
- Estee O’Brien, Community Center of Northern Westchester: Estee worked at the center’s food pantry and clothing boutique, and she provided job and education resources to local families.
- Ella Romick, Marvista Family Center: Ella worked with young children, doing drop-offs and pickups, cleaning the facilities, teaching, and helping with field trips and playtime activities.
- Vivian Rosen, Heart of the Hamptons: Vivian prepared and distributed food, assisted with organizing food drives, ran her own events, and enjoyed communicating with clients.
- Maggie Rusconi, Manhattan Children’s Center: Maggie volunteered as a peer buddy for autistic students, playing games to teach turn taking and working at the center’s bakery to help students learn how to work and interact with people in the real world.
- Ingrid Schmitt, Berkshire Humane Society & Bilmar Veterinary Services: Ingrid shadowed veterinarians at Bilmar Veterinary Services and got more hands on at Berkshire Humane Society by preparing animals for adoption.
- Lucy Stettinius, Hill School: Lucy worked with teachers, administrators, and children, helping teachers prepare for the upcoming school year, managing files, and researching financial aid programs.
- Will Troise, Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium: Will spent his time at the hatchery cleaning the waterway systems, feeding baby trout, and giving fishing lessons to younger students.
- Athena Zarcadoolas, Organización Latino Americana (OLA) of Eastern Long Island: Athena organized files, drafted paperwork, and helped asylum seekers file applications and go to court.
- Sophie Zhou, North Carolina Zoo: Sophie worked with mammals and birds at the zoo, feeding, cleaning, setting up enclosures, and administering oral medication.
As we celebrate 10 years of the MillbrookEngage program’s life-changing effects on our students and their communities, we also look forward to the exciting opportunities the next decade will bring!
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