WHO WE WORK WITH

Students

The REV Center provides EOU students real-world, hands-on experiences and helps communities throughout eastern Oregon. This program inspires students across all disciplines by offering opportunities for fieldwork, research, internships, and service learning with local partners. The goal of REV is to cultivate vibrant and prosperous rural communities in eastern Oregon so they can build a path forward for living and working in this area.

REV also coordinates the Urban Rural Ambassadors course, offered every spring. EOU and Portland State University collaborate on the course and students from both universities are in the class. The class includes a few online sessions and two weekends, one in and around Portland and one in around La Grande. The Urban Rural Ambassadors course aims to build awareness across the urban-rural divide and better understand and appreciate similarities and differences surrounding common social and economic issues.

The Importance of Internships

How Higher Ed Leaders Can ‘Build Better Internships’, Inside Higher Ed, June 10, 2024

More than half of Americans no longer believe college is worth the cost. Paid internships could help. Fast Company, January 9, 2024
Paid Internships Are Vital To Student And Employer Success, Forbes, July 27, 2023

REV’s Project Coordinator Ashley Innis talks with us about current student employment opportunities.

Current available internships

Receive Internship Alerts

“My internship with the REV has given me a greater understanding and appreciation for forestry and agricultural based industries in rural Oregon communities, and the impacts that sustainable forest practices and holistic economic development have on those communities' well being. It has solidified my interest and passion for economics, and influenced me to focus on rural economic development as a career.”
-- Sarah Buddingh, 2022 REV Intern

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“The REV internship gave me the opportunity to work towards something I was passionate about. It was a great experience, working with a supportive team and trying to make an impact on the community. The experience has taught me what I am capable of and inspired certain career paths.”
-- Hunter Schiess, 2020 REV Intern

The REV supports a number of projects promoting rural resiliency, workforce development, and enhancing regional resources while providing hands-on learning experiences for the next generation of rural leaders to develop meaningful career pathways in rural Oregon after graduation.
Gain experience working on real-world community-led projects which connect classroom learning to professional development. We connect with courses from a wide range of disciplines.
By working closely with community partners, you can make professional contacts leading to professional opportunities, internships, and full-time jobs. This can help you discover more interests and strengths, as well as what type of work environment you thrive in.
Build your resume: Develop skills directly translatable to the workforce and look great on your resume, in a portfolio of your work, provide you with work references, and potential job offers after graduation.
Talk to your professors about collaborating with the REV center.
Contact us to find out how you can volunteer, do independent study, or apply for an internship!

If you are interested in becoming a student intern, sign up for our Internship Alerts.

While earning a bachelor’s degree, student internships work with community partners on multi-year projects applying knowledge from their academic coursework, building skills in project management and leadership, and gaining a deep understanding of complex rural issues and environmental sustainability.

From the marketing classroom to public administration and environmental science, EOU faculty and students are interested in learning through active engagement with eastern Oregon issues and communities. REV provides capacity and support to make collaboration easy and effective.

Intern positions

54

Number of student interns*

43

REV Projects with Internships

16

*Some students have done more than one internship with REV.

REV Student Interns & Mentors

* repeat REV intern

2024 REV Interns

Anjelynn Baron, GO-ASAP Coordinator

Anjelynn is an MAT student at Eastern Oregon University who is working towards becoming an elementary PE teacher. She loves the outdoors and being able to encourage others to stay active through various types of activities. She decided to become a mentor for GO-ASAP to help more students become interested in staying active.

Claire Bever *, Blues Intergovernmental Council Intern

Claire wants to work with statistics in the public sphere. The BIC internship will help her collaborate in the public sector to help her pursue a career in the public sector.

Josh Ferguson, REV Social Media Intern

Josh’s career goals revolve around leveraging his skills in marketing, data analysis, and leadership to make a positive impact in local communities and organizations.

Beckie Juarez-Smith, GO-ASAP Intern

Beckie is a second-year nursing student at OHSU School of Nursing, La Grande. She’s lived in eastern Oregon for six years and is interested in pediatrics. She has a master's degree in wildlife and enjoys hiking, swimming, and exploring the outdoors.

Tandy Martin, GO-ASAP Intern

Tandy is a second-year nursing student from Agness, Oregon. When not studying at OHSU, he guides fly fishing and white-water rafting adventures. With a passion for the outdoors, Tandy can often be found on a trail, by a river, or in the mountains. Balancing the rigors of nursing with a love for nature, he is a compassionate adventurer with a heart for both healing and exploration.

Addison Ribordy *, Rural Planning Program

Because sustainability is a new broad field, Addison wants to experience as many parts of the subject as possible, from community planning, to education, to natural resources. She has an interest in most fields sustainability has to offer, so testing out different internships helps her figure out what she wants to narrow down to for a career.

Carley Wilkerson, GO-ASAP Intern

Carley is studying to be a nurse with the goal of going into pediatrics. She has worked at a summer camp and loves being outside and traveling.

Treyton Montgomery, Rural Planning Program

Treyton’s career goals involve working in some position involving city planning or community engagement.

2023 REV Interns

Claire Bever *, Data Analyst for Rural Transportation Equity Project

Claire wants to work with statistics in the public sphere.

Zachary Brown, Data Analyst for Blues Intergovernmental Council

Morgan Farrington, GO-ASAP Mentor

Karly Jo Hanosky, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

Corrian Kellogg, Data Analyst for Rural Transportation Equity Project

Gates Leatherwood, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

Dona Ramadani, GO-ASAP Mentor

Addison Ribordy *, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

Because sustainability is a new broad field, Addison wants to experience as many parts of the subject as possible, from community planning, to education, to natural resources. She has an interest in most fields sustainability has to offer, so testing out different internships is helping her figure out what she wants to focus on for a career.

Ethan Ronquillo, GO-ASAP Mentor

Anya Schooler, GO-ASAP Mentor

Mackenzie Whaley *,
REV Social Media Manager // Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

2022 REV Interns

Laura Ayala, LaunchPad Baker Intern

Calvin Bennett, City of La Grande Intern

Koedi Birmingham, Baker Traffic Garden Intern

Julia Huyg *, Urban Rural Theater Intern

Julia grew up in Middleton, Idaho and found her passion in the theatre department. In high school, she participated in every theatre show the school did. Julia has always wanted to become a teacher, and plans on pursuing that path. She is passionate about amplifying the voices of individuals who would otherwise not have an outlet to share their stories and is excited to explore this passion through REV’s Urban Rural Theater program.

Corrina Stadler *, Baker Traffic Garden Intern

Corrina grew up living in many different rural towns throughout her youth. Later, her family moved to Baker City, Oregon. Growing up she enjoyed swimming, art, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. During her sophomore year of high school Corrina was able to do foreign exchange to Chile for eight months. Corrina decided to pursue her secondary education at Eastern Oregon University because of the smaller size and closeness to home. During her second year at EOU, she discovered the Sustainable Rural Systems program.

Cierra Grant, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

Cierra completed a bachelor’s in Molecular Biology with the goal of becoming a veternarian.

Simon Maille, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

Tess Cahill, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

Avery Hughes, Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute Mentor

John Bittinger, GO-ASAP Intern

Alaina Carson, GO-ASAP Intern

Mikayla Cordle, GO-ASAP Intern

Jessica Frazier, GO-ASAP Intern

Kylie Kennedy, GO-ASAP Intern

Taylor Light, GO-ASAP Intern

Sarah Buddingh *, Economic Intern

Benjen Lilly *, REV Social Media Intern

Vitor Pedrosa *, Data Analytics Intern

Vitor studied Computer Science and Mathematics with a concentration in Linear Algebra at Eastern Oregon University. In addition to his REV internship he is also working for Facebook. Vitor was born in Brazil and moved to America in the 5th grade. He is fluent in Portuguese and English.

2021 REV Interns

Sarah Buddingh*, Economic Intern

Sarah was born and raised in the small logging community of Philomath, Oregon. Growing up, she enjoyed playing many sports, student government, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. Sarah decided to pursue her secondary education at EOU because of the smaller class size, beautiful environment, and affordability. She believes her rural community upbringing and enthusiasm for economics aided her throughout her time with the Rural Engagement and Vitality Center.

Zachary Cahill, Housing and Economic Development Intern

Zachary studied business administration and economics at Eastern Oregon University. He grew up in Boise, Idaho where he spent the majority of his time fishing, mountain bike riding, snowboarding, and playing multiple sports. He was attracted to the small college town of La Grande because it had all his favorite outdoor activities in a small community. Rural eastern Oregon has increased his appreciation for small-town communities and the outdoors.

Shanon Griffin *, REV Social Media Intern

Julia Huyg *, Urban Rural Theater Intern

Benjen Lilly *, Baker Resources Field Supervisor Intern // REV Social Media Intern

Vitor Pedrosa *, Data Analytics Intern

Corrina Stadler *, John Day Greenhouse Intern

Emily Mendoza *, Urban Rural Theater Intern

At Eastern Oregon University, Emily studied business administration major with a concentration in marketing while minoring in Spanish. She aims to become an entrepreneur in the future where she can combine her passions to benefit rural communities. Emily enjoys being involved at EOU and in the La Grande community. Born and raised in Hermiston, Emily developed a passion for marketing. She is passionate about creating a bridge between students from all backgrounds. She thinks it is important to understand different perspectives and take action towards progress.