June 25, 2014

Intern Profile: Raquel McNeff ’15

Meet Raquel McNeff ’15, an English major and intern at AC Portland.

Raquel McNeff ’15

Major: English
Hometown: Dana Point, California

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

This summer I am interning for the nonprofit organization AC Portland. We work with underprivileged children at schools around the city and provide after-school soccer programs and creative writing opportunities. I am working as a camp coordinator/director for AC Portland. My job is to put together the four soccer camps we have set up for this summer. I plan drills to do with the kids, reach out to donors who can provide snacks, make sure kids are signed up and that we have enough coaches and volunteers, and go to the camps and make sure everything runs smoothly and that the kids have a great time.

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

I met Ben Dudley, the executive director of AC Portland, while doing my community service hours that are needed for the varsity athletic teams at Lewis & Clark. The women’s soccer team helped out at a soccer event, and I helped Ben set up his station and reached out to him this past semester inquiring about an internship. Then Lewis & Clark helped by granting me the Stephanie Fowler and Irving Levin Summer Internship Award, which provides money for rent, transportation, and food. Without the help of Lewis & Clark, I would not have found AC Portland or been able to work for them this summer.

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

My goal is to become a teacher once I graduate, and I want to teach abroad for a few years before coming back to the United States and teaching here. This internship is teaching me how to reach out and connect with kids from various backgrounds, which will serve me well abroad and here at home. Also, I have been a soccer coach before and plan on pursuing coaching my whole life; this opportunity just increases my experience working with kids as a coach and coordinator. The connections I am making at this internship are so valuable, and if I ever wanted to run my own nonprofit one day, I can reach out to all of the people I have been working with to get their perspective on where to start and how to run a successful business.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience thus far?
The drive and passion that AC Portland has is so inspiring. They have given so many opportunities to children around Portland to play soccer and express their feelings in a safe setting. AC Portland puts on the 50/50 Raffle during the Portland Timbers and Thorns games, where half of the proceeds from each game go to the winner and the other half go to AC Portland and the Portland Timbers Community Fund. They have done such a good job of promoting their organization that almost everyone at the games already knows what the raffle is about. It is such an honor for me to be working alongside such dedicated and wonderful people. And playing soccer as part of my job just adds to the fun!

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 English Department