July « 2026 « OSU Extension Internship Program

Hello! My name is Evelyn Schecter and I am the Oregon State University Extension Service intern for Wasco County, Oregon. I have just graduated high school and I am going to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for biomedical engineering in the fall. Throughout college, I hope to find the path within biomedical engineering that most interests me and then pursue it after I graduate. In the past, I participated in many 4-H camps, and I have worked as a 4-H STEM Teen Leader for the past three years. This involved helping out by running summer camps and afterschool clubs, along with coaching VEX IQ robotics at The Dalles middle school. This past experience is what inspired me to apply and become an intern for OSU Extension.

Evelyn Schecter sporting her college merchandise for South Dakota School of Mines on Decision Day. Photo: Varina Schecter

As an intern this summer, I will continue to help lead and plan summer camps for 4-H youth, and in August, I will help at the Wasco County Fair. So far this summer, I have helped lead many STEM camps, including Intro to 3D Printing, Game Maker, Sphero Coding, and Introduction to Vex IQ Robotics. I have also led a group at our archery camp and helped lead a few local hikes. These camps are meant to be an opportunity for youth in Wasco County to discover new interests and have fun while learning something new! For me, leading these camps allows me to partake in the community and help spread educational opportunities. Through my role as an intern, I am able to give back to the community through activities that I am extremely grateful were available when I was a 4-H member.

Bill and Evelyn from Wasco County instructing the archery line at their week long archery camp. Photo: Susan McCourt

In the second half of my internship I will continue leading more summer camps and will also be helping Susan McCourt with an Invention Convention teacher training. The purpose of this training is to spread knowledge of the Invention Convention (IC) to possible schools and teachers that will then be able to support it in their classrooms. While IC has been around for 43 years, it is just now being brought to Oregon, and I am super excited to be a part of spreading it throughout the state. I am also excited for this August as I will be helping out with the Wasco County Fair and 4-H program through planning and logistics, and offering service through tabling.

I am very grateful for what I have been able to do so far, and I am looking forward to whatever comes next!

Hello! My name is Colleen Lovdokken. I am double majoring in biology and Spanish at Oregon State University. I hope to work in community-based conservation for my future career. With OSU Extension, I work across the Willamette Valley and on the coast conducting nitrate screenings of well water and educating homeowners about their wells and septic systems. This summer, I am excited to experience farmers’ markets and community events while making a meaningful impact on people’s quality of life. I hope to grow in community engagement and education skills through interacting with individuals from various locations and backgrounds.

Interns, Colleen (right) and Abby (left) conduct a nitrate screening at the Brownsville Farmers’ Market. Photo: Melanie Reynolds

Nitrate test tubes at the Brownsville Farmers’ Market. Photo: Colleen Lovdokken

So far, I have attended the Millersburg and Brownsville Farmers’ Markets. For these markets, I was joined by one other intern as well as a representative from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Together, we completed 36 tests and talked to 66 community members about our educational materials and OSU Extension’s work.

In the office, I have also been developing bilingual educational materials for well owners. Getting to use my Spanish language skills while developing resources that make well water education more accessible has been invaluable.

One thing that stands out to me so far is the collaboration involved in every step of our work. Everyone has their individual strengths and getting to work together allows us to connect with community members and grow as a team. I can’t wait to see what this summer brings!

– Colleen Lovdokken

Hi everyone!

My name is Madeline Breiling, and this is my fourth year working with OSU Extension in Umatilla County, but my first year serving as a 4-H intern. I recently graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, astronomy and data science. This fall, I will be returning to the College of Charleston to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics with a concentration in statistics. I am excited to be back in Pendleton for another summer serving the community through OSU Extension!

Hermiston summer school students working on building a paper stomp rocket. Photo: Madeline Breiling

I am now in the seventh week of my internship. This summer, my primary focus has been reaching nontraditional 4-H audiences by providing STEM education opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to them. STEM programming is an area with significant need in Umatilla County, and I have been grateful for the opportunity to combine my passion for STEM education with community service by developing my own STEM curriculum, creating lesson plans and teaching hands-on activities.

Featuring an afterschool program art project from students at the YMCA who followed a binary algorithm. Photo: Madeline Breiling

To start my internship, I worked with the YMCA elementary after-school program in Milton-Freewater, where I taught unplugged computer science lessons. These activities focused on building foundational computational thinking skills, including following algorithms, communicating clearly and developing creative problem-solving strategies. I also taught lessons in physics and engineering that encouraged students to take the lead in the scientific process through experimentation, allowing their creativity and curiosity to guide their learning.

Over the past two weeks, I have also been teaching an aerospace engineering unit to fourth- and fifth-grade students at Hermiston summer school. The unit concluded with students working in teams to design and build stomp rockets using paper and tape before testing them outside. After their initial launch, students developed a hypothesis about a design change that might improve their rocket’s performance, modified their rockets and launched them again to test their ideas. It was exciting to watch them apply the engineering design process while learning through experimentation.

For the remainder of the summer, I will be leading a STEM activity at Camp Cloverbud and teaching STEM lessons for the YMCA summer camp in Milton-Freewater. I am looking forward to the opportunities still ahead. It has been incredibly rewarding to see students become excited about STEM, especially since many of them have limited opportunities to participate in hands-on STEM learning during the school year. Seeing their curiosity and confidence grow has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my internship.

My name is Karyna Marquez, and I am excited to be serving as the Hood River County 4-H Intern this summer. I am a Hood River County native and a freshman at Oklahoma State University, where I am majoring in agricultural communications and earning a certificate in meat science. Growing up in Hood River County, 4-H played a major role in my life and helped shape who I am today.

Karyna Marquez promotes the livestock industry during her senior photo session. Photo: Hannah Muhlbeier

My journey in 4-H began when I was a Cloverbud and continued throughout my youth as I became involved in livestock projects. Over the years, I showed large livestock competitively throughout the Pacific Northwest and developed a passion for the agriculture industry and youth development. Through my experiences in 4-H, I gained valuable skills in leadership, responsibility, communication and public speaking that continue to benefit me today.

Because of the positive impact 4-H had on my life, I am excited to return to the program in a new role this summer. As the Hood River County 4-H Intern, I will be assisting with outreach, programming and county fair activities. This internship provides an opportunity to give back to the program that gave me so much while also gaining professional experience in Extension. My career goal is to work in agricultural communications, whether that be for an agriculture communications company or within the communications department of a larger agriculture organization. Through this internship, I hope to strengthen my communication skills, learn more about community outreach and gain a better understanding of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into Extension programming and events. I am also excited to learn more about event planning, social media outreach and the many ways Extension serves local communities.

One thing I am especially looking forward to this summer is helping with county fair activities. Fair week was always one of my favorite parts of 4-H and I am excited to experience it from a new perspective. I also hope to work on outreach projects, assist with youth programming and help create resources that support local 4-H members and families. I am grateful for the opportunity to spend the summer with Hood River County Extension and eager to learn, grow and give back to a program that has had such a meaningful impact on my life.

Hello! My name is Abby Thorsen, and I am entering my third year at Oregon State University. I am studying human development and family science. After finishing my undergrad, I plan to attend grad school to pursue a career in counseling or therapy. I have loved every part of my internship under the OSU Extension Service Groundwater Protection program in the mid and southern Willamette Valley so far. My favorite part of this internship has been speaking with community members about their water and health and helping them find resources they can utilize.

Abigail Thorsen smiles for the photo at a nitrate screening clinic. Photo: Colleen Lovdokken

Extension has always been a huge part of my life, starting when I joined 4-H at nine years old and continuing until they gave me the boot after graduation. In high school, I was a member of multiple Extension Advisory boards in Polk County, where I learned about how Extension programs are run and funded on a deeper level. I am super excited to be involved with Extension again this year and give back to the program that has had such an impact on my life personally.

So far, I have learned an incredible amount about well water, groundwater and septic systems, and I have so much to learn still! Understanding the way these systems work together has also opened my eyes to how deeply our environment shapes daily living and health. As I keep learning, I’m excited to explore even more of the connections between environmental systems, public health and human services. It is meaningful to see how these areas overlap and I’m looking forward to continuing to build this understanding.

Given the numerous water screening clinics we host over the summer, I am also looking forward to traveling across the mid and southern Willamette Valley and seeing areas I have not spent much time in. I am excited to observe not only the environmental differences in this region, but also the varied community demographics. Having the chance to see these contrasts firsthand will help me better understand how environmental conditions and population characteristics intersect, and it will broaden and inform my perspective on the communities that we serve. This knowledge is something I plan to carry with me as I pursue my future career.

Hello everyone! My name is Shylee Davis, and I am an intern with the OSU Extension Service in Harney County. As local as it gets, I am a born and raised cattle rancher with a passion for the agriculture industry. Growing up around livestock, I quickly discovered that working with animals was where I belonged. This fall, I will be attending Central Oregon Community College to study health sciences before transferring into a veterinary technician program.

Shylee Davis smiles for a senior photo with her horse. Photo: Brooke Joyce

My involvement with Extension coincides with my involvement in 4-H, which started when I was in the fourth grade through my participation in swine projects and dog training. Because 4-H has played such an important role in my life, I was excited for the opportunity to work with the Extension Service and gain a behind-the-scenes perspective of the program that helped shape me. 4-H has taught me countless valuable life skills including responsibility, leadership and confidence. One of the best parts of this internship has been working alongside an amazing team while continuing to grow my passion for animal science and youth development. Throughout this summer, I have had the opportunity to assist with a wide variety of projects. I began by helping design and paint waves on the Harney County Historical Society’s Fourth of July float; Crossing of the Delaware. I have also helped set up livestock panels at the fairgrounds in preparation for the county fair in September. Aside from these activities, most of my time has been spent in the Extension office where I have worked on many different projects. Through Canva, I have designed buttons and T-shirts for our 4-H Day Camp, held July 13-16. More recently, I have been organizing office storage areas and sorting through historical records and books.

As the summer continues, I will be helping prepare for the Harney County Fair. I am especially excited about helping with fair preparations because, although I have spent many years exhibiting livestock, this internship has given me the opportunity to experience everything that happens behind the scenes. I have a new appreciation for the planning, teamwork and dedication required to make the fair a success.

Balancing this internship with my own market and breeding livestock projects through FFA has been both challenging and rewarding. It has strengthened my time management skills and allowed me to experience the fair process from both the exhibitor and organizer’s perspectives. This internship has been an incredible learning experience and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program that has given so much to me. I look forward to continuing to learn, serve my community and help make this year’s Harney County Fair a great success.

Hello everyone! My name is Nakayda Jacobs, and I am a senior at Oregon State University studying natural resources with a focus in agricultural and natural resources communications. This summer, I have the great pleasure of being part of the Groundwater Protection and Education team with OSU Extension in the mid and southern Willamette Valley.

OSU Extension intern, Nakayda Jacobs tabling at the Millersburg Farmers’ Market. Photo: Colleen Lovdokken

One thing to know about me is that I enjoy a little bit of everything and love working at the intersection of different disciplines. One of my favorite parts of this internship has been seeing how natural science and human health come together. I also enjoy working alongside a team of peers with diverse academic backgrounds, each bringing a unique perspective and expertise to the program. Every day has allowed me to learn something new, whether it’s about groundwater, public health or what community outreach really looks like.

As part of the groundwater team, I get to apply what I’ve learned in soil science and water resources to real-world issues involving private well water and septic systems. It’s been exciting to see how the concepts I’ve learned in the classroom directly translate into helping communities make informed decisions about their drinking water. Working for OSU Extension has been especially rewarding because it allows me to put my education into practice while continuing to learn through hands-on experience and community engagement.

One unexpected challenge has been learning how to communicate the bitter with the sweet. As someone passionate about science communication, it can be challenging when the information I share has the potential to affect someone’s daily life or livelihood. While I love spending time at community events and farmers’ markets talking with people about topics I’m passionate about, an important part of this work is helping people understand potential risks to their health and water quality. Those conversations require empathy, patience and the ability to explain technical information in a way that is both accurate and approachable.

Throughout this summer, I hope to continue developing my communication skills and become more confident in having meaningful conversations with a wide variety of audiences. I’m excited to keep learning from my team, strengthen my outreach experience and continue growing as both a natural resource professional and science communicator.

Hello! My name is Makaela Carter, and I am very excited to be working with the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service in Douglas County as a 4-H intern this summer. I was born and raised in Douglas County, so I am grateful for the opportunity to work within my home community. I graduated from OSU this spring with a bachelor of science in agricultural sciences and a minor in agricultural and food business management. I will be returning to OSU this fall to pursue a master of science in agricultural education, with the goal of becoming a high school agriculture science teacher.

Makaela Carter smiles for a grad photo taken outside of the Memorial Union on OSU’s campus this past spring. Photo: Jacob McGhehey

I am extremely passionate about teaching others about the agriculture industry and helping students develop leadership skills early on. I hope to give students the resources they need to be successful in life after high school. Because I care deeply about education, I am excited to learn more about different types of educational outreach during my internship with OSU Extension this summer. I hope this experience will broaden my perspective on education and help me become a stronger educator in the future.

My involvement with 4-H began when I was 11 years old through raising and showing hogs at the Douglas County Fair. While my knowledge of OSU Extension as a whole has been limited, I am eager to expand my understanding throughout this internship. My main tasks this summer will be assisting with preparations leading up to the Douglas County Fair and helping out behind-the-scenes to ensure that it is a successful week for all 4-H members. I am looking forward to being a part of such an important event in the community!

Since beginning this internship a few weeks ago, 4-H activities have been in full swing. I helped prepare and facilitate our county’s Cloverbud 4-H Camp, where we offered many engaging activities for members. Kids created bug hotels, made bird feeders, performed science experiments, potted flowers and even put together a paper quilt that will be displayed at the fair this August along with the other 4-H static exhibits.

These three weeks have flown by and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store!

Douglas County intern, Makaela Carter, smiles for the camera at the end of the 4-H Cloverbud Camp alongside the 4-Hers, volunteers and other OSU intern (Amaya Slay); posing with the paper quilt that the Cloverbuds created. Photo: Katie Baxter

Hey everyone! My name is Mackenzie Wesley, and I just wrapped up my sophomore year studying sports management and equine business management at Asbury University in Kentucky. I am so excited to get to serve this summer as the Klamath County Extension foresty intern. Having grown up in the Klamath Basin, I am thrilled at the chance to pour back into the community that has poured so much into me. This is my first year interning with the Klamath County Extension office, but I am excited about everything that is going to happen.

Mackenzie Wesley leans against a fence post and smiles for a picture. Photo: Tyra Mast

I will be assisting our head of foresty, Kidane Giday, in organizing a county-wide 6th grade education event focused on forestry. During this tour, students will be exposed to various aspects of preservation, maintenance and general outdoor knowledge. This will be done through eight stations that will be set up in a loop with each station touching on a different aspect of natural resources and forestry knowledge. Having taken some natural resource and outdoor skill classes myself, I am incredibly excited to get to create a space where 6th graders will get to learn about the world around them in a hands-on way. This event will also have natural resources and forestry professionals as educators at every station, which is an excellent way to build career awareness. I am looking forward to getting the opportunity to expand my event management skills as that is something that I am looking at going into once I graduate.

Over the summer I hope to improve my emailing skills, mass communication skills and gain a foundational understanding of what it takes to program and run an event such as the one I explained above. I am also looking forward to spending time learning more about forestry in the Klamath Basin and working with the incredible team at the Klamath Basin Research and Extension Center.

OSU Extension Internship Program

Monthly Archives: July 2026

OSU Extension intern engineers opportunities for youth in STEM

OSU Extension intern supports healthy communities and accessible education

OSU Extension intern inspires the next generation through educational STEM programming

OSU Extension intern returns to the 4-H program to serve and support in a new role

OSU Extension intern serves at the intersection between health and the environment

OSU Extension intern goes behind the scenes to give back to her community

OSU Extension intern seeks to communicate and engage with the community

OSU Extension intern supports education in the local community

OSU Extension intern explores career aspirations through current opportunities

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