SPARK Stories
Nazareth invests up to $4,000 to make amazing experiences possible for you. Eligible students can use a $1,500 Nazareth SPARK Grant for:
- an international experience during the school year
- an otherwise-unpaid/underpaid summer internship or summer research experience — plus for-credit summer experiences can get tuition waived, an additional benefit worth more than $2,500 (for three credits).
Pre-Vet
Amanda Heron - internship
"I have a better idea of what I want out of a potential career in journalism or photojournalism." Thanks to a recent summer internship at Lake Affect magazine, Amanda Heron '24 learned more about social impact work and wants to do work that benefits people and places. Read her blog post.
Ayat Al Sallami (internship)
Social work major Ayat Al Sallami '24 used her SPARK grant in the summer to intern as a case manager at Mary's Place, a non-profit refugee outreach center in Rochester. "It definitely helped me know myself better and where I want to work and with whom," she writes in a blog post. "I have learned that I am capable of working with people who speak different languages. I have to build good communication skills with all different kinds of people."
Matthew Reimann '24 (INTERNSHIP)
Interning with a refugee service agency was life-changing for Matthew Reimann '24, a political science major in Nazareth's 3+3 program with Syracuse Law. In a blog post, he shares what shocked him and how he built empathy during his experience, supported by a Nazareth SPARK grant and summer housing on campus.
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SPARK grants provided, spring 2018 - summer 2022
Kevin Leysath II internship
After composing music for student filmmakers, junior Kevin Leysath II used a Nazareth SPARK grant during summer 2021 for a screen music program taught by visiting artists and special guests from around the world — toward his goal of a film scoring career. Along with lessons on mixing and mastering, he said he gained useful insights — such as how to approach gigs and collaboration and how to make a live recording more successful. "This experience has given me great things to enhance my craft in film and video game scoring in all aspects," he wrote in a guest student blog post.
Leanna Restani internship
A Naz SPARK Grant made it possible for Leanna Restani '22 to pursue a for-credit accounting internship with Deloitte that also tied into her minors in analytics and psychology.
Meredith Rasey (Chile)
A Nazareth SPARK Grant made it possible for Meredith Rasey '21 to pursue a 6-week pre-med summer program in Chile — where she realized she wants to specialize in obstetrics. Read Meredith's story.
Nick Lenhard (Internship)
Nick Lenhard '22, a music/business major and jazz lover, pursued an unpaid summer internship at WGMC Jazz 90.1 with financial support from a Nazareth SPARK Grant. "I really like working at a radio station because I get to share the music that I'm passionate about to a larger audience," said Nick, who's interested in radio DJ and station management work and appreciated the insider views of how a radio station functions. "One of the most interesting parts of my internship was getting to go along on a sales call with my supervisor at a local jazz venue, discussing the venue becoming an underwriter ... forming a symbiotic relationship between the business and the station that benefits both parties."
Music Publishing Internship (NYC)
Yaliza Frank (research)
Double major: education and English
Project: She researched prison-related books for children and young adults. She catalogued each book's theme, topic, and the information provided and created a chart that can guide teachers and librarians to put the right books into the hands of the kids who need them.
Having an incarcerated family member "can be a rollercoaster of emotions," she says. "Some of these books do a good job telling kids how to address their feelings." Other books give really specific and practical details, such as for a prison visit: "One of my favorites explained how to be checked in and what to wear."
Her research mentor, Professor Ed Wiltse (pictured), says: The books “help kids deal with the trauma that is the experience of incarceration.”
Izabella "Izzy" Kimber '21 (RESEARCH)
Major: social work
Project: how to best identify, screen for, understand, and treat postpartum depression; a collaboration with Prof. Rebecca Rouland, Ph.D. (social work), pictured (on left) with Izzy.
Goal: Use the findings to promote evidence-based practices among all types of health care providers who work with parents experiencing postpartum depression.
Izzy says that the experience was helpful as she prepares for graduate school. "Doing something that interests me and that I am passionate about is when I do my best work. Knowing that fuels me to follow what I love, even if it will take a long time to reach all of my goals," she says. She hopes to someday initiate her own research projects. Her future career goal: forensic interviewer
Honor: The work earned Izzy the 2019 New York State Social Work Student of the Year Award
SPARK Grant linked to college success
SPARK participants:
- do more high-impact experiences (global learning, community engagement, student leadership, professional experience, conferences, research)
- have higher grade point averages
- are more likely to graduate in four years
Underrepresented minority students participate in SPARK at the same rate as majority student populations.
KATIE EIPERT (INTERNSHIP)
After just one year of college, nursing major Katie Eipert '21 gained knowledge, confidence, and more from an internship in geriatrics at Highland Hospital. The SPARK Grant provided funding and a no-cost internship credit. Read about her experience.
Communication and Media
Stefanie Bunnell (INTERNSHIP)
Caring for animals such as Sophie the owl (pictured) and Wilbur the black vulture and educating people about them at Tanglewood Nature Center has confirmed plans by Stefanie Bunnell '20 to become a teacher. "I never thought I would find a career path that makes me excited to wake up on a Monday morning to go to work, but I did! I also know now that it is possible to merge education with environmental conservation in a career, which is great because I am an education and biology major!" She'd like to become an elementary teacher and continue with conservation work, research, and working with animals. "I have always had a passion for the environment and a deep interest in all the animals in it..... Showing people the importance that particular species hold in the ecosystem hopefully makes them aware of the value in preserving those species and the planet they live on." She said her SPARK Grant allowed her to focus on this internship all summer, without struggling to also fit in a part-time job.
Summer 2022
- 48 SPARK grants for study abroad
- 96 SPARK grants for internships
- 11 SPARK grants for research
Recent Summer Internships
Examples of SPARK Grant-supported summer student experiences:
RESEARCH mentored by faculty
- An English and education major studying incarceration narratives in children's literature to identify books that help children understand/cope with a parent's incarceration
- A social work major doing a qualitative project on postpartum depression
- A biology major studying the effect of growing medium on the health of plant seedlings
INTERNSHIPS
- A music/business major at Carl Fischer Music sheet music publishing company in New York City
- A music education major teaching music in Spain
- A finance major at Northwestern Mutual in Syracuse, NY
- An occupational therapy major at Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) Camp in Oregon.
- A dance and social work double major at Dancenter dance school in Utica, NY
- A communication and media student with a minor in music performance providing social media and photo/video work at concerts at Symphoria Orchestra in Syracuse, NY
- A legal studies major at the Indiana County District Attorney's office in Indiana, PA
- A public health major at Madison County Department of Health, NY
- An English major at 585 Publishing in Rochester, NY
- A music/business major at Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps in Boston
- A psychology major at Compeer in Rochester, NY
- A musical theatre major at Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival
- A business management major with an art minor at Rev Marketing in Victor, NY
Student deadline: You must apply before the experience starts, but after you've lined it up. See SPARK Grant eligibility and details »
FARIDA HOSAINI ‘22 (HUNGARY)
Studying in Hungary for a semester allowed Farida Hosaini '22 to overcome her fear of being so far from home. "After settling into my apartment, taking the time to navigate throughout the city, and speaking to so many people, I realized that within less than a month, I have truly formed a second family far away from my hometown of Rochester."
Farida — a global studies major with minors in music and studio art — was able to study political science and international studies as well as visual arts and music at the University of Pécs. "Being in Hungary has taught me how important it is to learn how to live independently and adapt to a whole new environment, as your hometown may or may not be the place you would stay in for the rest of your life. It has taught me the importance of being patient, persistent, and a risk-taker." Farida, who's the first in her family to go to a four-year college, says she would have not been able to make the trip without the help of Nazareth's SPARK Grant. She also received a prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State.
MEGAN RUFFALO '22 (Italy)
Major: visual communication design
Minor: dance
SPARK experience: studied at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence.
"Getting to study art in a city full of work by Renaissance masters is so incredible," said Megan — calling it unbelievable to see in person, up close, the artworks she has read and learned about. Among her favorite experiences: seeing Michelangelo's sculpture David, climbing all 463 steps to the top of Florence's Duomo, and taking day trips to explore other beautiful Tuscan cities like Siena, San Gimignano, and Viareggio. Her spring 2020 stay was cut short due to COVID-19, but she's so glad she went. Months later, Megan said: "I think back to my time in Italy often, and when I do, I feel nothing but joy and gratitude to have gotten the opportunity to learn and grow there. I treasure the two months I had there — it was genuinely the best experience of my life. The places I explored, the sites I saw, the people I met — I wouldn't trade that for anything."
99%
For students who used SPARK their first year, 99% successfully moved on to their second year at Nazareth.
Lily Caron (Hungary)
Nursing and public health major Lily Caron '20 traveled to Hungary during spring break to present a paper about mental health to fellow college students. Big confidence boost to speak in front of a large international conference? Yes. But so much more. "My host student, Regina, gave me an invaluable experience as she took me horseback riding in the country, showed me a famous lookout of Lake Balaton, and taught me what the typical Hungarian college experience is like. She's already planning a trip to visit me in America and has invited me back to stay with her for two weeks this summer! I strongly believe that traveling with Nazareth College provides a chance to learn valuable lessons and make memories that will last a lifetime."
NICK CAPOSTAGNO (INTERNSHIP)
"I remember coming to baseball games here at Frontier Field as a kid and always having such a great time and always making memories with my dad, but I never thought I'd have the opportunity to one day be a part of the 'behind the scenes' operations," says Rochester Red Wings graphic design intern Nick Capostagno '20, a visual communications design major. "I can say that there is never a dull day while being here. This internship has really opened my eyes to what I can expect for a potential career in graphic design and I couldn't be more thankful for all that the Red Wings and Nazareth have done for me — helping me become a better graphic artist and a more professional individual. "
Erich D’Eredita (Research)
"There's a joy in finding information that hasn't been known before," says biology major Erich D'Eredita '20, who spent 6 summer weeks on campus analyzing the caloric value and composition of northern crayfish. The role was paid, but commuting 45 minutes both ways from home would have been an obstacle — until he got on-campus housing at very low cost through Nazareth's SPARK Grant program. He said the summer research advanced his proficiency with laboratory procedures and machinery, including computerized calorimetry, which is a plus for his plans to pursue grad school and future research. He would love to research the way life exists in the Great Lakes or Finger Lakes area — where he's from — and find a way to remove contaminants that are inhibiting life. "That's what I want to do. I've always loved nature." Considering climate change, he adds, "There's definitely an urgency."