Program Alumni
Rebecca Carmick
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of LGBTQ Affairs (OLGBTQA)
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"My assignment to the OLGBTQA has been an exceptional professional experience that I am truly grateful to have been selected for. This experience has inspired me to work for Santa Clara County in the future because I have gotten to see firsthand all the amazing work that is being done by people who truly care about their community. I have enjoyed seeing how research can be turned into programs and policy that supports our County. Read more..."
Danielle Castillo
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Children and Families Policy (OCFP)
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"I am very proud of myself for helping with the OCFP initiatives and providing support to the community. The Government Fellowship Program has inspired me to continue helping the public with equitable practices and research. Read more..."
Connor Cormier
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Budget and Analysis
Educational Institution: Menlo College
"At first glance, work relating to budgeting didn’t seem very complex; however, I quickly learned that Santa Clara County contributes to a vast number of services that the public doesn’t always see... Santa Clara County’s Government Fellowship has helped me gain insight into resource allocation for innovative solutions and how public policy decisions impact marginalized populations. Read more..."
Brian Darmitzel
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Privacy Office
Educational Institution: University of California, Los Angeles
"The County of Santa Clara Government Fellowship Program has been an excellent career development opportunity and a great learning experience overall. I am extremely grateful to Jennifer, Destiny, and Zarina for managing this program so well, to the Board of Supervisors for supporting the Fellowship Program, and the Santa Clara County Privacy Office for providing myself and other fellows in the office with an excellent fellowship experience. Read more..."
Anthony DeGennaro
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Privacy Office
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"My experience allowed me to engage deeply with meaningful policies, further cementing my commitment to public service. Navigating the County's intricate bureaucratic landscape taught me the significance of stakeholder engagement, effective communication, and strategic planning, all crucial elements for success in a governmental setting. Read more...."
Faith Fernandez
Placement: Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System - Center for Diversity and Health Equity - Office of Health Equity and Improvement
Educational Institution: Stanford University
"The fellowship honed my communication, collaboration, and project planning skills, preparing me for a future career emphasizing diverse team cooperation. The program's dedication to community needs inspired a desire to work for the County, given the passionate and synergetic environment in the Office of Health Equity and Improvement. Read more..."
Cheyenne Grant
Placement: County of Santa Clara Custody Health Services Department - Juvenile Justice Involved Youth
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"This placement complemented my academic background in psychology and child and adolescent development, and interests in marginalized and minoritized groups quite well... This was an immensely enriching experience that I have shared with professors at my alma maters in hopes of getting more students to take advantage of this great opportunity to work with our County leaders. Read more..."
Madison Hall
Placement: Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - Business Development and Managed Care Contracting
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"During my time in the Government Fellowship Program, I conducted a comprehensive review of the contractual variances between Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Hospitals, providing insightful recommendations as part of the contract consolidation process... I also collaborated with Santa Clara Valley Healthcare leadership, offering expertise and support in preparing the detailed monthly operations and financial reporting for the Health and Hospital Committee. Read more..."
Catherine Lico
Placement: Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System - Center for Diversity and Health Equity - Office for Health Equity and Improvement
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"Within my scope of work, I have achieved several significant outcomes. First, I successfully created and implemented a project charter that laid the foundation for integrating doulas into the County hospital system, addressing a vital gap in maternal care. Second, I researched potential federal and private grant opportunities that my department can apply to, for this project and other health equity efforts. Third, I curated and presented a robust legislative file for the Board of Supervisors that underscored the urgency and importance of gender-affirming care, providing empirical support for a resolution dedicated to this cause. Read more..."
Neha Mann
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of LGBTQ Affairs
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"Overall, working in the Government Fellowship Program for the past 10 weeks has been an impactful experience in informing considerations for my future career in public health. Santa Clara County is actively working towards implementing equitable and inclusive approaches to programming and initiatives, and these efforts are incredibly important in reducing health disparities among the LGBTQ+ community in Santa Clara County. Read more..."
Christian Martinez
Placement: Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency - Vector Control District
Educational Institution: University of California, Irvine
"Overall, I liked the combination of indoor office work and outdoor activities. I will miss having the option to decide what I would do for the day. Read more..."
Charlotte Reid
Placement: County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department - Workforce Development Division
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"I am very proud of myself for overcoming my fears around public speaking and giving presentations to my team. Over the course of my fellowship, I became increasingly comfortable presenting my work and ideas. Read more..."
Kathryn Rickwa
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Gender-Based Violence Prevention (OGBVP)
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"I supported the OGBVP through various projects related to the Annual Domestic Violence Conference in October, such as workshop and speaker development, event accessibility and inclusion, and community outreach... As an aspiring healthcare and public health professional passionate about women’s and LGBTQ+ health and wellness, conducting these projects has been incredibly rewarding, and I hope to remain active in the work dedicated to ending gender-based violence and empowering survivors with the resources and support they need to heal and thrive. Read more..."
Maren Rule
Placement: County of Santa Clara Custody Health Services Department - Juvenile Justice Involved Youth
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"The Fellows Program allowed me to grow professionally in a unique government setting, offering insights into the complex yet rewarding nature of County work. Beyond enhancing my professional development, this role enabled me to forge connections with the community. Read more..."
Alexa Ryan
Placement: County of Santa Clara Valley Health Plan - Business Development
Educational Institution: Stanford University
"The main objective of my fellowship was to create an actionable community outreach program to improve awareness of Valley Health Plan’s offerings in the regions that we serve. This project has a specific focus on outreach to communities that experience barriers to obtaining healthcare insurance. Read more..."
Ani Sargsyan
Placement: County of Santa Clara Procurement Department
Educational Institution: De Anza College
"I've had the privilege of collaborating with the Procurement Department to enhance language accessibility in upcoming solicitations. My primary project involved thorough research to identify strategies for integrating language accessibility into the solicitation processes. Throughout this experience, I've gained a deeper understanding of the Procurement Department's functions, significance of language accessibility, and the importance of document translation. Read more..."
Toni Spellacy
Placement: Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency - Vector Control District
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"During my time at Vector Control, I learned so much about various disease reservoirs and the logistics of protecting the community from many diseases. My experience in the lab this summer was invaluable to my career and academic development. Read more..."
Vinson Vu
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Vietnamese American Service Center (VASC)
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"Throughout my summer fellowship with the Vietnamese American Service Center, I completed several projects to reduce health and social disparities in local communities... My fellowship has been an amazing experience to further develop my skills and knowledge of public service while working on a variety of projects that make a positive difference in the lives of our community members. Read more..."
Angel Lin
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Vietnamese American Service Center
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"As a Vietnamese American first-generation college student, I came to understand the incredible value of creating spaces and systems of support for young people to engage with their cultural identities. In my time at the VASC, I drafted a proposal for Mạnh Khoe, Vui Vẻ: A Youth Empowerment Program that seeks to create a comprehensive, holistic model of care for youth through nourishing health education, cultural opportunities, peer support groups, and critical conversations… Having the opportunity to work so closely with the Vietnamese American community, interact with the seniors, and sing karaoke with our clients has been an opportunity to reconnect with my cultural background. "
Ava Baker
Placement: Technology Services and Solutions
Educational Institution: Duke University
"…I gained a lot of soft skills as I had multiple meetings a day where I had to interview managers about the amount of time their team was spending on projects. This taught me a lot about how to communicate clearly, best practices for meetings (whether or not to take notes, how to write a meeting invite, how to write a clear and concise email, etc.), and how to conduct myself in an office environment… I learned to be flexible and understanding, since everyone has their own timelines and priorities."
Eleanor Stalcup
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of LGBTQ Affairs
Educational Institution: Stanford University
"Overall, I had such a wonderful experience working with the Office of LGBTQ Affairs and the County in general. I had many opportunities to practice and develop my research, project development, public speaking, presentation, and community outreach skills. Moreover, I was able to experience firsthand the inner workings of government and learn about the extensive work that occurs behind the scenes to develop policies, proposals, and programs."
Evelyn Correa
Placement: Office of the District Attorney - Victim Services Unit
Educational Institution: Stanford University
"The highlight of my fellowship was definitely being able to witness and partake in the interactions between the victim and the advocate or the victim and the criminal justice system. Hearing their stories gave me an array of emotions, and at times it was truly heavy to hear some of the experiences of victims, but it made the work that VSU was doing even more meaningful and urgent. I hope future fellows get to experience more than I did the interactions with the victims because I know it’ll only serve as fuel to push for systemic and deep change in the county towards trauma informed and trauma reducing practices."
Grace Leete
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"This fellowship has certainly inspired me to work for the County. As a young woman from Salem, Massachusetts, I feel incredibly grateful to the County of Santa Clara for hosting me, not only while I attend Santa Clara University but also through allowing me to explore career opportunities through this fellowship. I would not be the woman I am today if it was not for the experiences, I have gained here in Santa Clara County. I always knew that whatever career path I follow, I want it to have a purpose and a positive impact on the community around me."
Jacob Atkins
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Division of Equity and Social Justice
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"I love talking about [my project], and I am looking forward to it being presented to the Hate Prevention and Inclusion Taskforce. Unlike most of my friends who have summer internships or jobs, I feel like I have truly had a substantial impact on this project. I do not feel like an intern, I feel like a true member of the [Division of Equity and Social Justice] team—especially regarding my level of contribution to this project."
Katrina Snyder
Placement: Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency - Vector Control District
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"I was working to create fogging maps (the zone around a positive mosquito trap set to be sprayed). The final map needed to have the boundary of the fogging, which was a circle of approximately one mile radius that followed the line of the roads—as well as five site locations flagged both inside and outside the fogging zone for trapping to test the result of the fogging. I succeeded in creating a script that would automatically make this map for a location anywhere in the county—as well as a line that would create an excel list of addresses for the prefog trapping. I was commended for the effort and everyone was pleased that this task could be completed more quickly…"
Robert Castaneros
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: Stanford University
"A big highlight of my engagement was in this process of observing the SCVMC Emergency Department. My main tasking was to observe the intake workflow of ambulance patients into the care of the SCVMC ED. Therefore, on the fly, I started learning about the work of different people within the Emergency Department… During my observations, I would note how long each offload took, how efficiently staff worked to get patients into the care of the ED, whether there were any superfluous steps within the ambulance intake process. With my observations, I prepared to report my findings to the Hospital Flow Steering Committee… During the meeting, I recommended that the SCVMC ED prioritize the availability of a dedicated Ambulance Nurse in the Emergency Department."
Annamarie Sofranek
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Privacy Office
Educational Institution: Stanford University
“One of the biggest highlights for me was the exposure to County operations and getting to hear from professionals/experts. I really enjoyed getting to sit in on Privacy Ops meetings and understand how the office functions and what projects they are working on… It was a wonderful learning opportunity, and I was able to get a lot of insight about privacy/tech policy within both the private sector and public sector.”
Ashley Dargert
Placement: Procurement Department/Office of the County Executive - Office of Countywide Contracting Management
Educational Institution: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
“[My] projects are extremely useful for my career development because I learn a lot overseeing a project from start to finish and trying to persuasively communicate my thoughts to others... It is very satisfying to get outside of your comfort zone when you are working on something you are passionate about.”
Jennifer John
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: Stanford University
“Because [my] projects were embedded in preexisting programs and workflows, I know that my work will have sustaining impact even after the summer concludes – a unique and gratifying feeling to have as an intern. This structure also meant that my experiences fully immersed me in the realities and complexities of making change in a County setting. I encountered barriers to pursuing my projects and interests that I had not experienced in previous internships in the private sector and academia… With support from my mentors, I learned how to navigate these factors. At the end of the Fellowship, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the structures that are put in place to ensure the County runs smoothly, and for the dedicated public servants who provide vital support to them.”
Jordan Betancourt
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of LGBTQ Affairs
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
“I can confidently say that I have achieved much more than I could have ever hoped for in the duration of this 10-week Fellowship… I always told myself that someday I would work to make changes in Gilroy that would support individuals to live their authentic lives in Gilroy. Working with the OLGBTQ, I can continue to advocate for changes and stir up important LGBTQ+ related conversations in a smaller/rural city where they may not have easy access to LGBT resources.”
Maria Gonzalez
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
“The projects I worked on throughout my ten weeks [at VMC] exposed me to different aspects of the health and hospital system that I had not seen before, while also expanding my analytical and excel skill set... This experience has inspired me to work in the County because I see the vast array of jobs and opportunities the County has to offer... There is also a lot of important work for the surrounding community that occurs in the county, that would be very fulfilling to be a part of.”
Neelofar Husin
Placement: Office of the District Attorney - Victim Services Unit
Educational Institution: Gavilan College
“The Government Fellowship Program has actually, fundamentally changed the trajectory of my career. Being in the program has opened my eyes to restorative justice and its corresponding careers, the dire need for dedicated advocates, and also research opportunities that I’ve never even considered or even knew about before I came into the Fellowship... This experience has greatly inspired me to work for the County. The amount of care and support that I received from the staff of the DA’s office, and the amount of dedication and passionate work that I witnessed in the Child Advocacy Center has emboldened me to go out there and ensure that I, too, must do everything I can to help others and give back to the community.”
Robert D. Westover Jr.
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Privacy Office
Educational Institution: Stanford University
“I am very proud of the work that I was able to complete for the three main projects that I worked on for the Privacy Office… Having my recommendations and suggestions actually implemented was definitely one of my highlights this summer. I felt that I was able to have legitimate impact as a Government Fellow.”
Saliha Nasir
Placement: Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency - Vector Control District
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"It was amazing to see how much work the County does behind the scenes to ensure the well-being and safety of all county residents. Prior to the fellowship, I did not know how much work a single County office does to make a positive impact on the lives of county residents. I hope to become a County employee so that I can contribute to the essential work done by the County of Santa Clara."
Valeria Gonzalez
Placement: Office of the District Attorney - Victim Services Unit
Educational Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz
“The Government Fellowship Program has helped me prepare for my future career. I have been able to continue building my research skills and I have gained more experience working independently… Working on an immigrant-based project to improve victims’ services for the immigrant community is useful to my career development because one of the career paths I am interested in is becoming an immigration attorney.”
Alex Weiskopf
Placement: Office of the County Executive – Privacy Office
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
“This Government Fellowship Program has helped prepare me for my future career immensely... Researching and writing about the [California Consumer Privacy Act], Exposure Notification Privacy Act and many other ordinances or proposed bills has given me a reference for how Privacy legislation might be crafted in the future, and I can use that knowledge later in my career.”
Arielle Dorch
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
“Throughout my experience as a 2020 Government Fellow at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, I’ve grown tremendously as an individual and professional… As someone fresh out of college, the various opportunities to learn and serve through the County have always been attractive to me. And because of the culture that VMC and Santa Clara County maintains, I am definitely inspired to serve the public and represent the County.”
Randall Clopton
Placement: Office of the County Executive – Privacy Office
Educational Institution: University of California, Berkeley
“…One of the major career benefits I gained from this fellowship was the integration into the network of local government privacy professionals. The people I have met and spoken with over the course of the fellowship are some of the leaders in this field, and I feel that I have set myself up well to continue working in the broader information and tech policy space.”
Vianna Vo
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: Stanford University
“Without the experience that GFP provided me, I would still be in the dark, trying to figure out the path that I am supposed to walk. Above all, it is the people at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) that made this experience special. Though I learned much about the U.S.’ health care system, and how to use pivot tables in Excel, that is not the part of the program that made it different... Instead, it was the opportunity to interface with employees at the County and to learn more about their stories and what motivates them to stay at SCVMC.”
Annjelika Slate
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Privacy Office
Educational Institution: University of California, Santa Barbara
"The Fellowship has had a tremendous impact on my career aspirations and academic interests. Working for the Privacy Office gave me a glimpse into a brand new and interesting field, one that I hope to incorporate into my studies and research at UCSB. I would recommend this Fellowship to anyone that is interested in expanding their professional outlooks and relationships, as well as those that are passionate about local government. It was such a great opportunity and I am truly thankful."
Christopher Song
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Supportive Housing - Housing and Community Development Division
Educational Institution: University of California, Berkeley
"If I was given the opportunity to work for the County of Santa Clara, I would gladly take it as I believe that working in the public sector really emphasizes your role in helping others, rather than private companies that really emphasize profit and maximizing their revenue. The public sector really addresses the needs of the public by using public funds and using those ideas to help people in need or just helping the entire county in general. As a result, I want to be involved and a part of something that could really help influence my own community."
Darius K. Johnson
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"While working on some of the projects within my placement at VMC, I truly feel as though I have made an impact on the system which has ultimately impacted the residents of the County... and I feel as though I have helped the County achieve its safety net mission to ensure that patients, regardless of socioeconomic status, have the ability to receive high-quality healthcare..."
Emily Rosas
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Supportive Housing - Rapid Rehousing
Educational Institution: University of California, Merced
"This experience has definitely inspired me to work for the County of Santa Clara in the future. Through my experience, I've learned about the critical leadership position Santa Clara County has in working towards solutions for both homelessness and the regional housing crisis. I've also been motivated by the professional atmosphere within County offices and the high level of commitment that SCC employees have for the work they do."
Javeria Idris
Placement: Public Health Department
Educational Institution: Mission College
"This experience has definitely inspired me to want to work for the County because it opened my eyes to the effort the Public Health Department puts into keeping our County healthy and safe at all times. The positive impacts that the Department has brought to the County as a whole and will continue to bring is quite inspiring. Working for the County for these past 8 weeks has given me the opportunity to engage in professional teamwork, communication, research, etc., and I would be happy to work in Public Health or another County Department in the future, in order to improve the lives of Santa Clara County residents, regardless of age, ethnicity, or economic status."
Kristopher Olarte
Placement: Registrar of Voters
Educational Institution: DeVry University
"...I initially thought that this [fellowship] would only have me doing basic tasks using Microsoft Word or Excel while participating in some duties revolving outreach, but it exceeded my expectations. I immediately started working in my career field and creating several different graphic design projects to explain and clarify the new voting system... (Voter's Choice Act)."
Michaela Fogarty
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Supportive Housing - Crisis Response
Educational Institution: Pitzer College
"I'm still not totally sure what I want to do after college, but I think that this fellowship has definitely strengthened my drive to want to work with other vulnerable communities and work with people to better their situations. No matter what I do post-college, I do know that the Fellowship will have prepared me for future work in different communities and being able to work professionally with other people and being able to respond to their issues."
Nora S. Ramírez
Placement: Office of Supervisor Dave Cortese, Board of Supervisors - District 3
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"My fellowship has taught me to push myself in an unfamiliar work environment, to believe in myself. I would definitely recommend the Government Fellowship Program to family and friends as this is a great way to become involved with the government to better understand how everything works and to appreciate what is done for the community every single day."
Government Fellowship Program 2019 Fellow's Testimonials
Aryan Taheri
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Sustainability
Educational Institution: De Anza College
"This experience has made me adopt a newfound appreciation for the work the county does. Additionally, there are many kind and inspiring people that I met that work at the county, which made me open up to the possibility of eventually working for the county."
Ashley Estrada
Placement: Roads and Airports Department
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"My time at the Roads and Airports Department has been life-changing. Coming into this program, I was unsure of what career I wanted to pursue in life. Leaving this program, I know that I would like to work for the County... Overall, I recommend this program to all students as not only do you grow professionally, but you grow as a person."
Caroline T. Le
Placement: Valley Medical Center
Educational Institution: De Anza College
"The entire experience opened my eyes to how much of an impact SCVMC has on our county. Working here has shown me that this is a place where people can provide for anyone despite their socio-economic status. I believe in helping every single person as much as possible and if I was given the opportunity to work here or in the County, I would gladly accept the offer."
Nolan Golden
Placement: Department of Planning and Development/Office of Ken Yeager, Board of Supervisors - District 4
Educational Institution: Gavilan College
"I received most, if not all, of my inspiration to work for the County when I began my second fellowship with D4. Being able to actively participate in the D4 community was like being able to see all of your hard work come to fruition."
Quynh Vo
Placement: Employee Services Agency
Educational Institution: San Jose City College
"I would consider to work for the County later on when I am finished with college. The job that I was doing would help me on communication skills, teamwork, researching, and analyzing which I would find a job for Human Resource Department or my Economics major related in the future. I also love working in a professional field like the Santa Clara County."
Ryan Tieu
Placement: Technology Services and Solutions
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"The Government Fellowship Program was a great way to allow students, like me, to have a taste of the professional work environment and how it is to work for the government. After working for [TSS], I have placed the Santa Clara County, especially the Employee Service Agency, as a strong option to work for after I graduate from San Jose State."
Soledad Parada
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Supportive Housing
Educational Institution: Mission College
"...I am beyond excited and blessed that the Office of Supportive Housing loved my help that they offered me to stay as an Intern III. Thank you so much for the opportunity and I hope many more students are able to benefit from the fellowship as much as I did."
Tran N. Tran
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Immigrant Relations
Educational Institution: University of California, San Diego
"This is my second year in the Government Fellowship Programs and I still have a same conclusion that this work experience really inspires me to work for the County. I am proud of what SCC has achieved and the fact that local government always supports its community."
Tyris Le
Placement: Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency
Educational Institution: De Anza College
"Overall, this fellowship was an eye-opening experience and was a privilege to be able to get my feet wet in the field of government work. After witnessing how interesting this type of county job can be, I am more curious about it and hope to immerse myself into other aspects of government duties as a possible future career."
Vinshaan Nguyen
Placement: Department of Planning and Development - Technology Services and Solutions
Educational Institution: University of California, Santa Cruz
"I thought that this program was very beneficial for me. I was able to take what I have been learning in school and apply it to my work on the InSite permit system. Through these 10 weeks, I have been exposed to a real working environment and I was able to work with real professionals."
Brendan Miller - Honorary Fellow
Placement: Department of Planning and Development
Educational Institution: San Jose State University
"Overall the experience has been a positive one... Learning about the various aspects of both the permitting processes and future agricultural developments was a highlight."
Government Fellowship 2018 Fellow's Testimonials
Charlotte Von De Bur
Placement: Office of Ken Yeager, Board of Supervisors - District 4
Educational Institution: University of Chicago
"I appreciated the high level of autonomy, which granted me ample room for professional growth, something that many other internship programs lack."
Christian Andres
Placement: County Communications
Educational Institution: Evergreen Valley College
"This experience, I can say has inspired me to work for the county in a public safety capacity. I've always wanted to work in public safety and I am very fortunate and blessed to have been put in this program. It was a very unique and valuable experience."
Colleen Burke
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Women's Policy
Educational Institution: Santa Clara University
"Not only did I feel as though I was actually capable of making an impact, but it taught me some very beneficial ways of communicating and working in an office environment. Mostly, it fueled my passion for social justice and I felt like I was finally doing something that mattered to me."
Divya Kumari
Placement: Office of the Sheriff
Educational Institution: Evergreen Valley College
"I believe the PSEP program is a learning program and you can gain a lot of knowledge with the program. I recommend this program to all the students because it is an experience that will teach you tons."
Rodrigo Raya, Jr.
Placement: Roads and Airports Department
Educational Institution: Gavilan College
"The people I mainly worked with shaped me into a better man and helped me decide what I want to do with my life. I benefited so much form this internship. Seeing everyone being happy at their job is the definition of a job."
Sochinazor Odidika
Placement: Information Services Department
Educational Institution: California State University, East Bay
"This fellowship has not only intrigued my curiosity; it has also led to me inquiring about the possibility of a GIS certification after my graduate degree in the fall of 2017."
Tran N. Tran
Placement: Office of the County Executive - Office of Immigrant Relations
Educational Institution: De Anza College
"The experiences in these weeks really inspired me to work in the County because I have learned Santa Clara County staff has worked as a great team and have provided a great support to others to achieve the mission."