What are the responsibilities of an organization that sponsors a Morehead-Cain intern?
There is no financial obligation on the part of a Morehead-Cain internship sponsor; Scholars receive a stipend to cover all travel and living expenses for the summer. All that is expected of you is that you provide the intern with a challenging and stimulating experience and an understanding of the structure and decision-making processes of your organization. Sponsors usually accomplish this by treating their intern as much like a full-time permanent employee as possible.
How would having a Morehead-Cain Scholar as an intern benefit my organization?
Morehead-Cain Scholars are bright, motivated, versatile, and well-rounded. They have been selected to receive the Morehead-Cain because they have demonstrated natural leadership and a commitment to excellence. They expect and relish challenges, so we encourage you to assign them projects that will test their limits.
What types of work can be expected of a Morehead-Cain intern?
Morehead-Cain interns in public service have had such assignments as teaching English in Namibia; working in community development in Costa Rica; helping design a charter school program in San Francisco; and participating in the North Carolina Zoo's initiative on environmental conservation in Uganda.
Morehead-Cain interns in enterprise have worked as investigators at a public defender's office; have researched show topics and interviewed guests for CNN's Larry King Live; and have written briefs and coordinated global voting campaigns for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
The best results for both internship sponsors and interns have come when the interns' considerable talents have been used and tested, and when the Scholars have been given the opportunity to stretch and learn during their internships.
What is the timetable for internship assignments?
Scholars apply to the Foundation for an internship opportunity in the fall of the academic year. They indicate their top choices from a list of existing internships compiled by the Foundation. Alternatively, they may establish an internship on their own if they have a special interest in or association with an organization not on our list.
When making assignments, we consider the students' choices, qualifications and interests, and the needs of the internship sponsors. Internship assignments are made by mid-March. Scholars are then expected to communicate directly with the organization and set a starting date.
Internships usually begin in mid- to late-May and last for eight to twelve weeks.
Should I help my intern find a place to live for the summer?
Part of the challenge of the Morehead-Cain Program is that, although fully funded, interns are expected to locate their own housing, arrange their own travel, and work out their own logistics. Please feel free to offer guidance, especially as it relates to their safety, but it is not your responsibility to find housing for them.
How can I get a Morehead-Cain intern?
If your organization would like to be considered as a prospective internship sponsor, please contact:
Ms. Karen L. James, J.D.
Assistant Director for Summer Enrichment
The Morehead-Cain Foundation
Post Office Box 690
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0690
(919) 962-1201
(919) 962-1615 (fax)
moreheadcain@unc.edu (e-mail)
