After receiving a fellowship from the Linda M. and D. Brooks Zug ’67 Community Health Student Internship Fund, senior community and global health major Taylor Crompton had the opportunity to work at a small nonprofit for children with special needs. Located in Allentown, Pa., Camelot for Children (Camelot) allowed Crompton to support children and their families by helping plan summer camp activities, conducting a parental needs assessment, assisting with grant writing, and leading weekly life skills sessions.
Q: What did it mean to you to receive the Zug Fellowship for your internship at Camelot?
A: Receiving a fellowship from the Zug Fund was a huge relief for me financially. I had heard about the fellowship from two other students who had received it and I thought it was an amazing way for College of Health students to have the opportunity to do an internship during the school year in place of a job. So for me the Zug Fellowship was a gift as well as an opportunity for my future.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from working with a non-profit that focused on children with disabilities?
A: My biggest takeaway is that our society is built around an unrealistic expectation of the human body and it is our responsibility to advocate for the children and allow them to recognize their abilities.
Q: How did participating in this internship complement what you learn in College of Health (COH) courses?
A: My first role during this internship was to conduct a Parental/Caregiver Needs Assessment, which directly aligned with my capstone project. Through this experience, I applied a mixed-methods approach by collecting both focus group and survey data to evaluate parental satisfaction. This allowed me to gather meaningful feedback that could be used to recommend programmatic changes at Camelot, with the goal of improving child outcomes and increasing parental satisfaction. This hands-on experience directly complemented what I learned in my COH courses about community-based research, needs assessments, and mixed-method studies.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment from doing this internship (personally or professionally)?
A: This internship helped clarify my professional values and strengthened my identity as a future global health/ community health advocate. I grew in confidence, leadership, and organization—qualities that will guide my next steps after graduation.
Q: What can you share with other COH students about working for a non-profit organization focused on health?
A: Working for a nonprofit organization that was focused on health showed me how important flexibility, teamwork, and creativity are when resources are limited. You often wear many hats, and every task, whether big or small, contributes directly to the mission of improving community well-being. I learned that building strong relationships with the community you serve is just as important as program design or research. For COH students, I would say be open to learning from every experience, advocate for the populations you serve, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.
