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With Emerson Internship, First-Gen Student Gets International Experience

Jadon Demeritte '25 knew in her first year that she wanted to study abroad.

“I went to the Global Education fair and spoke with a representative from Kaya, a study abroad company,” said the public health and medical technology double-major.

Demeritte, a first-generation from the Bahamas, applied for and received an Emerson Foundation International Internship scholarship, which allowed her to spend a month this summer working at Lab Mamounia in Rabat, Morocco, studying immunology, serology and hematology in her laboratory internships.

In addition to her lab work, she’s had a chance to take in the cultural sights, including art galleries, the Spanish Mosque in Chefchaouen, and the Jardin Nouzhat Hassa, and Pigeon Square in Casablanca. “I instantly felt like I was at home in the Bahamas,” she said. “The garden was a true oasis.”

Hartwick College student Jadon Demeritte '25

“I knew that experiencing a different culture and a different way of life would help me both personally and professionally.”

Jadon Demeritte ‘25

Public Health and Medical Technology Double Major

She has detailed her experiences in a newsletter, which she sends to her Faculty Mentor, Stephanie Carr, assistant professor of biology, and others to keep them abreast of her experience. “I needed to do a one-page reflection weekly to get credit for the internship,” she said. “And I thought it would be fun to get creative with it.”

Demeritte was also an Active Minds fellow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting young adult mental health initiatives, which funded her on-campus project, “Bridging the Gap.” The project focused on the mental health of first-generation students, and she will present her findings during the Active Minds symposium in July in Washington, D.C.

She will continue her work on campus, including a “Flying First” event for first-generation families at True Blue weekend and the “New to the Nest” newsletter, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Health Promotion.

“I want to make sure these students know about amazing opportunities like the Emerson Scholarship and study abroad offerings,” she said.

July 18, 2023
Career Development, Spotlight

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