Net Impact Rewards Smith MBAs for Making an Impact

The Smith Schools Net Impact chapter has named three second-year MBA students as its 2002 Internship Fund Award winners. They are Greg Deviny, Katherine Ollinger, and Talicia Safford. Each receives a financial stipend for interning at a non-profit or socially responsible organization this past summer. Net Impact created the Internship Fund in 2001 because such internships often pay considerably less than other summer internships.

Deviny, who won a $500 award, interned at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. During his internship, Deviny built a five-year model projecting cash flow to sustain operations, and created benchmarking metrics for operation performance evaluation.

This award is important for me because I was recognized by the Smith School community for helping the greater local community, says Deviny. This was the first time that I have worked full-time for a non-profit and it was incredibly rewarding working with the people at the hospital; they are a great group.

Ollinger, who won $1,000, interned at the Anacostia Watershed Society, a non-profit, Maryland-based organization dedicated to improving the environmental, social, and economic health of the Anacostia watershed. During her internship, Ollinger wrote proposals and grants, created marketing materials, and helped plan the societys annual community recreational event.

This is related to the environment and Ive always been interested in that, so it was a good fit, says Ollinger. Im still working there through this semester because I enjoyed it, and I like what the organization is doing.

Safford, who also won $1,000, interned at North Capital Neighborhood Development Inc. (NCND) in Washington, D.C. NCND is a non-profit community development corporation that executes programs and projects to stimulate housing and economic development within the community. Safford says one of the reasons she returned to school for an MBA degree was to move into a new career where she could make a difference in the community. Saffords summer internship helped her move further in that direction.

I got a chance to really get my feet wet, and talk to residents in the community. Its a very grassroots initiative, says Safford, who intends to stay in the housing and community development field. I found my niche now, and thats where I want to work after I graduate.

Deviny, Ollinger, and Safford were among numerous Smith School students who interned at non-profit or socially responsible organizations this past summer, many of whom also submitted applications for the 2002 Internship Fund Awards.

In addition to providing internship awards, Net Impact arranges guest lectures, student discussions, interactive workshops, and community volunteer projects. The Smith School Net Impact chapter is part of the national organization, which includes 50 local chapters across the country. The University of Maryland will co-host the 2002 National Net Impact Conference, along with American University, The George Washington University, and Georgetown University, October 2527. The final day of the conference will be held at the Smith School of Business in College Park.