Bonner Internship Placements

Essential to the success of the Bonner program is the partnership with community organizations, who each identify a dedicated supervisor and specialized projects for their selected student. In terms of criteria, all internship placements must meet the following criteria, in alignment with one of the values of the Center for Civic Learning and Action (CCLA): 

Respect: We seek to develop and maintain mutual and equitable relationships with all stakeholders. 

• Safety for any and all students 

  • Environment is free from physical harm and danger

  • 501c3 status nonprofit, school, governmental organization, or church 

  • Zero discrimination and harassment (e.g. national stance on inclusion, specific mission of organization) 

• Offers opportunities to build respectful relationships with people from all walks of life (residents, clients, other colleagues) 

Shared Goals: We commit to the identification and pursuit of shared goals with our partners. 

• Delegable projects are a good fit for organizational impact and an undergraduate student’s skills and schedule 

• Positive historical record hosting CEFs or can demonstrate strong fit 

• Partnership interest—organizations and leaders who have interest in engaging collaboratively (not just a one-way transaction) 

Learning: We believe that civic engagement should be informed by the critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills associated with a liberal arts education. 

• Projects are learning-oriented for a student and develops their professional skills 

• Delegable long-term projects (3+ years) that include clear goals and progressions 

• Dedicated supervisor with capacity and mentorship potential 

  • Supervisor is well equipped to work with young people (trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate) and/or demonstrates a willingness to learn/adapt 

  • Enough capacity to establish regular weekly (or biweekly) checkpoints 

  • Willing to complete documentation on time 

  • Willing to mentor a young professional (potentially their first job) 

• Supervisor is willing to participate in annual partner orientation and professional development on topics related to student supervision (usually in the summers) 

Restorative Practice: We strive to recognize and confront current and historical inequities in our communities. 

• Addresses an issue area or community demographic where there is an existing gap or an emerging need/emergency 

• Identified projects will benefit others in the community and enhance the mission of the organization 

Location 

• Organization has an office or a place for a student to work/meet with their supervisor and other staff/interns 

• Accessible for a student to participate 

Are you interested in hosting a Bonner Fellow or nominating another organization/community leader? Share your interest with the Bonner Program Director here by filling out this form:  

In 2026, there are currently 27 Bonner Fellows who serve at 17 different organizations. The placements shift from year to year based on student interest, community need, and staffing transitions. However, the list below should offer a sample of the range of internship types (i.e. take note of internship roles), issue area of focus, and skill or professional development opportunities. Further below is a list of previous or past placements to offer more context.  

Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) 

• BBBS Program Coordinator  

Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) 

• CALC Collaborative Public Engagement Assistant  

Carlisle Victory Circle (CVC) 

• Youth Diversity & Civic Engagement Programming Intern (3) 

Central PA Family Support Services 

• Criminal Justice & Reentry Program Assistant (2) 

Community CARES 

• Marketing & Development Fellow  

Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) 

• Child Advocate Fellow (2) 

Cumberland County Prison (CCP) 

• Therapeutic Community Programming & Activities Intern  

Moving Circles  

• Development & Communications Project Assistant  

New Life Community / LifeWorks 

• Neighborhood Needs Coordinator  

Project SHARE & Farmstand 

• Farmstand and Food Justice Fellow (2) 

• Recruitment & Intake Intern 

Safe Harbour 

• Development & Communications Coordinator (2) 

Shippensburg Produce & Outreach (SPO) 

• Data Analytics Intern 

Supportive Partnerships for Youth (SPY) 

• Historical Preservation & Storytelling Intern 

United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County 

• Community Impact Intern 

• Success by 6 Early Childhood Coordinator  

YWCA 

• Sexual Assault Counselor 

War Peace and Justice Project (WPJP) 

• Peace-Builder Intern  

Bonner Program Coordinator—a Student Leadership Role supporting the program (2) 

Bonner CEF Host Timeline

For partner organizations interested in hosting a Bonner Fellow, take a look at the following table for an overview regarding the timeline and what to expect for a given year. CCLA recruits a new cohort of 6-8 first year or second year Dickinson students each Spring (April), who will then start their placement in the following Fall (September).

Fall 2026 Cycle – September 2026 Start

What to anticipate, if selected:

• Interns work 7-10 hours a week, on average, over the academic year schedule.
  • Students do not work over the academic breaks, including the winter term and summer term.
• In order to be accepted into the program, students commit to a three- or four-year internship. However, Dickinson students often study abroad for a semester or a year and will suspend their internship for that period. The expectation is that they will resume when they return.
• Students are expected to attend required Civic Leader Meetings, which are professional development sessions scheduled biweekly on Thursdays from 12-1pm. Please accommodate this meeting in their schedule.
• CEF cycles begin in August of each year, at the start of the Fall semester.
• Who are these students?
  • 1st or 2nd year students (when applying) committed to service
  • Often their first professional experience
  • Also going through a significant transition period
  • Mental health challenges are common
  • Academics comes first
  • Growth potential

Benefits to students to participate in BCEF program as compared to traditional internship:

• Cohort experience
• Peer community
• Professional development and civic leadership education
• Academic credit and notation on their transcript
• Membership in a national network
• Multi-year internship experience in which they get to grow over time
• Campus, community, and peer mentorship

Differences for partners participating in BCEF program as compared to traditional internship:

• Fewer hours per week from a student but longer overall commitment (3-4 years). Less student training required and can take leadership roles over time.
• Trained, paid students who are supported by a robust program (peer support, staffing, professional development, reflection)
• Might warrant more mentorship and upfront preparation to develop projects, but often deeper relationships formed and stronger capacity-building over time
• Priority access to Dickinson resources as a deep partner
• Rigorous requirements that necessitate robust learning over time. We ask partners to be intentional about giving their students opportunities to grow (i.e. take on leadership roles, lead new projects, exposure to different experiences, amplify responsibilities).
• More collaborative with CCLA partners—shared programming, invitations to events and conferences, shared expertise, access to other funding possibilities
  • Specifically, student placements are a collaborative and joint process. CCLA will manage the process of selecting an initial cohort of students. Partners will then have an opportunity to attend a speed networking session to share more about their internship and to meet students. Then, partners and students each request 1:1 interviews, on site, where you will each have ownership over your interview process. Following interviews, partners and students all rank their top choices, and the CCLA team will review all preferences and make initial suggested matches to partners, who can provide feedback and suggestions before the final decisions go out.
• Competitive selection process, given funding constraints, student candidate pool, and need
• The student candidates are selected because they demonstrate a strong commitment to community engagement and excellent leadership and professional capacity. Some students are flagged for their “growth potential,” which means that they demonstrate a large capacity to improve in their skills with the appropriate mentorship and opportunity. We select 1-2 growth applicants each cohort, to ensure that our program remains accessible to students from all backgrounds and experiences.

Relevant Links:

Community Partner Handbook

Formal agreements

• Community Partner Agreement
• Dickinson College Federal Work-Study Program Off-Campus Project and Community Engagement Fellows Program Placement Agreement

Resources

• Sample Bonner CEF Job Descriptions
• Building Internship Project Plans: A Guide and Worksheet to Developing a Long-Term Internship with Students
• Onboarding/Orientation Checklist