The Interdependence Hexagon Project has hired two dedicated interns for the summer of 2021 to aid in the growth of the organization. Learn more about them below.
Lauren Lopez
Lauren Lopez is a native of Easton, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 2018. Currently, she is a rising senior at Penn State University majoring in Global and International Studies with minors in Middle East Studies, Political Science, and Sociology. At Penn State, she is actively involved in many clubs such as Club Track and Field, Penn State’s Filipino Association, and the Dear Hero Program. Along with this, she is Vice President, Sisterhood for the fall semester for Sigma Omicron Pi, a national Asian American interest sorority.
Throughout her time at Penn State, she has taken extensive coursework focusing on human rights and global conflict exposing her to the difficulties that many individuals face throughout the world. She is expected to graduate in May of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Global and International Studies. After graduation, Lauren plans to find a job focusing on counter-terrorism or counterintelligence, either working for the government or a military focused company.
During her spare time Lauren enjoys spending time in nature or working out. She is an avid hiker, and she recently traveled to Alaska. Her goal is to travel to all the national parks where she can enjoy the peace of nature hiking along the trails. Besides hiking, Lauren enjoys running and weight lifting, which helps her to maintain a healthy routine. Keeping active is a rewarding experience for her, and she enjoys the freeing feeling that running gives her.
The Interdependence Hexagon Project has given Lauren many new experiences exposing her to how interconnected everyone is to each other. After discovering the internship posting, Lauren was hooked on the mission statement and goal of the organization. She has expanded upon her social media skills as well as writing abilities. Lauren has also been tackling new projects such as corporate sponsorship tracking. Though it seems to be a daunting task at first, she is ready to handle it head on. The opportunity to work with the Interdependence Hexagon Project is one Lauren is grateful for, and she looks forward to continuing.
Sadie Pawluck
Sadie Pawluck hails from Scranton, Pennsylvania, graduating from West Scranton High School in 2019. She is a rising junior at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Communications on track to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in the Spring of 2023. Her post-bachelor’s plans include pursuing a Master of Arts in Communications along with traveling the world. Once completing her degrees, she would love to work for a major media outlet. Her two main options involve serving as a news anchor or a public relations representative.
Outside of school, Sadie is an avid dancer, and she has danced since she was three years-old. Throughout her dance career, she has studied classical ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Sadie has even gone to New York City to take dance classes under the guidance of Katherine Kingsley, as well as at Steps on Broadway on numerous occasions. Since 2015 Sadie has taught pre-ballet, classical ballet, and jazz to students ages 5 through 16. She loves her involvement as an apprentice at her dance studio and it has certainly been an extremely rewarding experience that she will cherish for years to come.
The Interdependence Hexagon Project has been in her life since she was a child. In her youth she attended several workshops provided to the public by the Hexagon Project, such as creating hexagons made from clay and other materials. For the past few months she has learned a lot about the concept of interdependence. Also, she has become more educated with certain cultural aspects of life. Sadie believes the most rewarding task she has completed for The Hexagon Project is transcribing letters written by young people from Nigeria. It was an amazing experience to receive an inside view on how people from the other side of the world interpret the concept of interdependence and diversity. She is ecstatic to have received the opportunity to intern for the Hexagon project.