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Young, educated women such as those who attend Hamilton College are the target demographic of many egg donor programs. This summer, Hillary Norris ’15 is asking why. Through her Kirkland Summer Associate project, “What Are We Worth?” she is analyzing the criteria that fertility centers and prospective parents use to select egg donors. Her topic leads to complex questions about discrimination and what our society values.

For an aspiring actor, forming connections with an established theater company and prominent actors is a rare opportunity. This summer, however, Brian Evans ’15 is doing just that through an apprenticeship at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. With support from the Kevin W. Kennedy ’70 Internship Fund for the Arts, he is working on sets, taking acting classes and even performing in a major production.

In history books, the accomplishments of black women are among those most underrepresented. Through her Emerson Foundation project this summer, Jorett Joseph ’15 aims to research and recognize the efforts of black women who have promoted justice within their communities.

The American public frequently hears about corruption among politicians. This summer, Kristine Oren ’14 was an intern at the Department of Justice (DOJ), helping in their efforts to crack down on those offenses. With support from the Katharine Eckman ’09 Fund, she is interning with the Public Integrity Section of the DOJ, which prosecutes crime among public officials.

Many Hamilton students are hard at work at fascinating internships this summer. A few even managed to do two. Alicia Rost ’15 is going above the call of duty to give back to her community by interning with two non-profit organizations: The Maine Hunger Initiative and the Environmental Health Strategy Center. Her work this summer is made possible by support from the Joseph F. Anderson ’44 Internship Fund.

Kara Shannon ’14 has never feared going to the dentist. On the contrary, she grew up with an interest in dentistry, inspired by her father, who is a pediatric dentist. This summer, she is exploring her career interest through an internship at the Family & Pediatric Dental Center of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Providence, R.I.

An abandoned building can hold many memories, and Utica’s Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School may hold more than most. Since closing in 1992, the school has stood in disrepair, but people in the surrounding area still have strong memories of its role in the community.  With funding from the Emerson Foundation, Nathaniel Lanman ’15 is compiling a collection of creative writing about the school, which a group of students will later use in writing a script for a theater performance.

Many students at Hamilton love fashion, but very few get the opportunity to work for a distinguished fashion designer such as Oscar de la Renta, who recently received an honorary degree from Hamilton. This summer, however, Hannah Fine ’15 is interning with the e-commerce team at Oscar de la Renta. She is completing her internship with support from The Class of 2006 Internship Fund.

The legacy of Kirkland College at Hamilton includes a strong tradition of creativity, feminism and a penchant for the arts. Katherine Bickmore ’15 seems to embody that legacy. An aspiring artist, Bickmore is using this summer to further develop her artistic skills and examine the portrayal of women in art from the mid-19th century to present day. In her Emerson Foundation Project, “The Degeneration, Deterioration, and Decay of Society: A Critique of the Femme Fatale in Art,” she is creating a series of paintings that examine the depiction of women in art as dark and seductive beings.

During his time at Hamilton, Jonathan Michel ’13 proved himself to be highly motivated and organized. A four-year starter on the offensive line of the football team, he also found time to play club hockey and serve as the chair of the Judicial Board. Michel describes balancing his extracurricular commitments with coursework as “an exercise in discipline and time management.” He put those skills to good use and applied for dental school beginning directly after Hamilton.