July 21, 2014

Intern Profile: Hunter Meece ’15

Meet Hunter Meece ’15, a religious studies major and intern at WAVES for Development in Lobitos, Peru.
Hunter Meece ’15

Major: Religious studies
Hometown: Newport Beach, California

Can you tell us what you’re doing this summer? What are your basic duties as an intern?

I am currently exercising my passion for entrepreneurship as I intern in Lobitos, Peru, for the nonprofit WAVES for Development, whose mission is to inspire world travel and cultural exchange through surf experiences, while collaboratively building educational programs that empower travelers, local youth, and communities. I am conducting research in collaboration with the nonprofits Save the Waves and DG Costera to understand the economic impact of surf tourism on the area where the pristine waves of northern Peru bring surfers from around the world.

Thus far, my internship has been an adventure with unexpected opportunities for growth and learning in every task. The internship began after turning in my final exam, concluding my Lewis & Clark study abroad program in Cuenca, Ecuador, and boarding a bus to Lobitos, Peru. Before leaving, I had the opportunity to absorb valuable information from newly formed friends conducting social entrepreneurship projects with the Social Entrepreneurship Corps in Ecuador and through Yanayaku, a biology and creative studies station in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The information and resources these friends shared proved to be essential in formulating how I wanted to approach my internship.

Lobitos has a very engaged community that works closely with WAVES for Development to create positive impact. Speaking with individuals in the community shed light on areas of the organization that needed improvement and provided insight into how new members of the community are received. Analyzing this information with the lenses provided by the Social Entrepreneurship Corps and Yanayaku painted a picture of my current landscape.

How has Lewis & Clark supported you in the process of finding, securing, and funding your internship?

The opportunity for this internship presented itself while attending a local art show benefiting surf-related charities in Portland. WAVES for Development had a booth at the event and a bond formed instantly. In the following months, the founder of WAVES for Development came to speak with Lewis & Clark’s Entrepreneurship Club and the idea of an internship with the organization in Peru developed. While writing grant proposals for this internship, I received outstanding guidance from Michael Kaplan, managing director of Lewis & Clark’s Entrepreneurship Center; Rocky Campbell BA’00, my mentor; and Nina Olken, acting director of the Career Development Center. Kaplan and Campbell assisted with structuring my thoughts in a detailed and enticing manner, which has changed the way I approach writing, and Olken educated me on the art of resume writing.

How do you see this internship leading to a career in your chosen field and aiding in your overall career development?

Social entrepreneurship is a growing field that offers opportunities to create positive impact in countless ways. The opportunity to work with both native Peruvians and foreign volunteers wanting to pursue an adventure with purpose was what initially interested me in WAVES for Development. Creating an organization that serves an unmet need—domestic or abroad—is a career that fascinates me and offers future potential.

The Stephanie Fowler and Irving Levin Summer Internship Award was established by Stephanie Fowler MA ’97 and Irving Levin, generous donors committed to ensuring that Lewis & Clark students are able to have meaningful and enriching summer internship experiences.

Career Development Religious Studies Entrepreneurship