By Gil Pound 

A ccording to the American Association of Colleges and Universities, employers are 81% more likely to hire graduates who have participated in experience-based learning activities, such as undergraduate research, internships and community-engaged learning. 

Georgia College & State University’s Bachelor of Public Health program checks all of those boxes through an intensive capstone internship that prepares students for life after graduation with a semester of learning and professional growth. 

“The internship is the culminating experience for the public health degree,” said Dr. Ernie Kaninjing, internship coordinator and associate professor of public health in the School of Health and Human Performance. “Students get to apply the knowledge they have learned in the classroom, gain new skills and expand their professional network.” 

Worth 12 credit hours, the semester-long internship experience is substantial. Students are allowed a few weeks to become acquainted with their organizations before choosing a meaningful, sustainable project that either benefits the organization or the population it serves. They don’t just get the experience; they get to leave their mark. 

Creating a healthy home away from home 

Lilah Gapp, part of Georgia College’s spring class of 2026, interned with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Georgia. The charity provides lodging for families of seriously ill or injured children being treated at area medical facilities, like Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. 

While helping manage day-to-day operations at Ronald McDonald House, Gapp witnessed the weight families bore as their children underwent treatment in the neonatal ICU. 

“I realized that parents are so focused on their children that they forget to take care of themselves,” said Gapp. “I wanted to do something to help them with their mental and physical health.” 

The Peachtree City, Georgia, native created a maternal wellness toolkit and educational infographic outlining helpful resources and nutrition advice. The physical printout also identifies grounding techniques and signs of depression to help new mothers be mindful of their mental health during what can be an incredibly trying time. 

“I really wanted parents to remember that it was OK to take a minute to care for themselves while also caring for their child,” Gapp said. 

Mapping out care 

Izzy Galysh, a 2026 public health graduate from Rome, Georgia, spent her spring semester with Positive Impact Health Centers in Atlanta. The nonprofit organization specializes in comprehensive care for individuals living with HIV, providing medical care, pharmacy access and mental health counseling. 

Galysh worked at the administrative headquarters developing an online map compiling over 150 community resources for patients. The interactive tool highlights available services such as transportation, food, housing and more in the metro Atlanta area. 

“The map shows different resources throughout the city that patients can use to combat syndemic effects of HIV like food insecurity or being unhoused,” Galysh said. “Taking care of those obstacles helps them stay in compliance with their medication.” 

The map includes details for the services like eligibility requirements, documentation needs and hours of operation, making the application as all-encompassing as possible. 

“SHINE”-ing a light on physical activity 

Elyse Hoopes, another spring 2026 graduate of Georgia College’s public health program, worked with the Centers for Disease Control-funded SHINE program for her internship. SHINE – Supporting Health Initiatives and Nurturing Equity – is administered through the Georgia Department of Public Health’s North Central Health District. The program aims to prevent chronic diseases and improve overall health in Baldwin, Washington and Hancock counties through early childhood education, physical activity and nutrition. 

Hoopes worked on several initiatives, including gathering input on The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, an in-progress effort to create over 200 miles of continuous paved bicycle trail from Athens to Savannah. The trail will run through much of SHINE’s service area. Hoopes gained valuable experience engaging with community stakeholders and seeing the vital role partnerships play in promoting healthy environments. 

For her capstone project, Hoopes also collected survey data on a new playground park that opened in Milledgeville last year. She wrote a preliminary report giving suggestions on how to improve the space so it better meets the community’s health needs. 

“My time with the SHINE program gave me a good idea of what program implementation looks like,” said Hoopes. “I also got to see firsthand how important grant funding is in making health initiatives possible.” 

“Internships like these offer unique opportunities for students to get away from the classroom and dip their toe into what a career experience would look like,” Kaninjing said. “That’s one of the things we do very well at Georgia College.”

Header Images: Lilah Gapp, Izzy Galysh and Elyse Hoopes received their diplomas at the College of Health Sciences graduation on May 13. (Photos: Anna Gay Leavitt)