Matthew M

For Matthew Mendez, a general studies major and member of Howard P.R.I.D.E., a summer internship with the Columbia Maryland Archives Summer Field School combined his interests in history and urban planning.

"Since high school, I have had a strong interest in history and urban planning," Mendez said. "This internship made me want to learn more about the community where I spend much of my time."

Mendez also looked forward to collaborating with fellow HCC interns Ingrid Diaz, Scelene Kenneth and Spencer Gonce. Together, the group developed a public exhibit, displayed on the second floor of the Academic Commons building, that highlights Columbia's artistic legacy and its role in the community. He hopes students, faculty and staff gain greater appreciation for the artists who helped shape the community.

"I hope the main takeaways from this exhibit will be about how passionate each artist was about ensuring their work could be seen by the public," he said. "Each piece embodies the values of early Columbia."

Beyond historical research, the internship helped Mendez develop professional skills that will support his academic journey. At the college, he is a member of the Frederick K. Schoenbrodt Honors Program and gains hands-on experience through Undergraduate Research opportunities that contribute to his field of study. HCC’s student researchers work with faculty mentors in experiences that prepare them for research at transfer institutions while completing one to four for-credit courses. They also conduct original research and present their work at conferences and poster sessions on and off campus.

"Though my first professional and academic experience with undergraduate research was in this program, I also help run a chapter of the Maryland Student Legislature, which engages in research and debate over mock legislation drafted by students," said Mendez. "These experiences helped me build a foundation of research and presentation skills."

Mendez plans to transfer to either the University of Maryland or Georgetown University to study public policy.