Eleven graduate students from the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas have been named recipients of the 2026 Summer Internship Support Award.
The Clinton School recipients of the 2026 Summer Internship Support Award are Eleanor Barker, Niki Brunson Saunders, Grace Carmack, Nick Cartwright, Mitch McAllister, Camilla Morales, Gino Obaseki, Pashion Israel, Madison Tucker, Sydney Roulhac, and Nugget Sellers.
Administered by University Career Services at UA Little Rock, the award is funded through a generous grant from the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation. The award supports meaningful, hands-on experiences that enhance career readiness, professional skill development, and long-term success for students.
The merit-based award provides each student with $1,666 in financial assistance to help offset the costs of completing their summer internships. Clinton School students complete an International Public Service Projects (IPSP) during the summer between their first and second years, which is an independent project that tackles a global project or a domestic-based project with a partner organization with an international focus.
“The Summer Internship Support Award represents a great program to foster student success,” said Dr. Lea Metz, Student Services Coordinator. “By pairing critical financial relief with cutting-edge career readiness training, this program ensures our students are delivering vital public service work on the ground this summer, while positioning themselves to step into transformative leadership pathways after graduation.”
Sydney Roulhac, a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, is grateful for the award, which helped her secure housing for her IPSP in Washington, D.C. where she is working with Vital Voices Global partnership.
“This support has allowed me to focus on making the most of my summer project, gaining experience in women’s leadership and global advocacy,” Roulhac said. “Completing the career readiness tasks has strengthened my confidence in interviewing, networking, and professional communication, skills that are valuable headed into Capstone project partnerships. I have a better sense of how to present my work and its impact effectively. This preparation has allowed me to approach Capstone projects with a professional mindset, and the confidence to communicate my value.”
To maximize the long-term impact of the grant, recipients complete a comprehensive suite of career readiness activities through the Trojan Career Ready Hub AI, powered by WriteSea. Students will optimize their professional digital brands by updating their Handshake profiles, uploading professional headshots, and utilizing advanced AI tools to construct rigorously formatted, accomplishment-driven résumés.
“As we continue to explore new ways to support student success, career readiness remains a key priority,” said Michelle Marshall, Career Specialist and Chair of the Internship Support Award Committee. “The partnership with WriteSea has strengthened the resources available to our students, and I appreciate the efforts of Brittany Straw, Director of University Career Services, in helping advance this opportunity.
Experiences like this allow students to apply their learning in real-world settings while developing the adaptability, professionalism, and global perspective needed in today’s workforce. We remain committed to building innovative opportunities that prepare UA Little Rock students for an evolving workforce.”
For the recipients, the investment provides both immediate peace of mind and long-term professional credibility.
“I am incredibly grateful to receive this award, which helps me better afford my summer internship experience and gives me the peace of mind to focus deeply on the work I will be completing,” said Cartwright, a native of Rose Bud, Arkansas.
He is utilizing the support to conduct a high-level fiscal impact study this summer with St Anthony of Padua Community Association in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
“The career readiness tasks will significantly improve my résumé, cover letter, and interview skills as I look toward future open positions,” Cartwright added.
Niki Brunson Saunders, a Jacksonville, Florida, native who serves as the Clinton School Student Government Association Treasurer, said that the award deepens the connection between academic theory and structural change.
“Completing the career readiness tasks will help me strengthen how I communicate my skills, experience, and long-term public service goals to future employers, partners, and funders,” Brunson Saunders said. “The internship support will also allow me to focus more fully on applied learning, professional growth, and building credibility through meaningful public service experience. Together, these resources will help me move closer to a career focused on equitable policy implementation, community resilience, and systems-level change.”
Brunson Saunders is partnering with the Arkansas Chapter of the Fulbright Association to compare different organizational models. Her research highlights how these various structures best support global public service, educational exchanges, and institutional teamwork.