UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Adriana Lacy, co-founder of The Underground and a Chapel Executive Intern, has truly made the most of her time at Penn State. Lacy is a senior majoring in journalism and African American studies. Last summer, Lacy was accepted to the Chapel Executive Internship program, which gave her a $5,000 stipend so she could work at Axios, a media site in Washington, D.C. During her time at Axios, she was exposed to many facets of social media and audience engagement for a news organization, and she received hands-on experience in digital media reporting.
“If it wasn't for the Chapel Internship program, finding and affording housing would have been a lot more difficult,” said Lacy. “Thanks to the program, I was able to focus on my work without worrying about finances.” The Chapel Executive Internship program encourages liberal arts students who excel academically to pursue premium internships in the private sector.
Lacy was able to take the knowledge she learned from her internship back to campus where she is the editor-in-chief of The Underground, a multicultural student-run media site. Lacy co-founded The Underground with her friend Candice Crutchfield during the spring of 2015 when they were first-year students living in Ritner Hall. After attending a presentation by Soledad O’Brien at Penn State, the two students were inspired to create a news platform that incorporated diverse voices on campus. Today, The Underground is comprised of 50 students with various backgrounds, including students who speak English as a second language, international students, exchange students and more.
During her four years at Penn State, Lacy also interned with Roar Lions Roar, the Penn State Development and Alumni Relations, Penn State Athletics, and Blue White TV. She also served as public relations chair for the Penn State Alumni Association’s FastStart program.
Lacy summarized her time at Penn State as endless opportunities and support. “I’m thankful to all of my peers and teachers for serving as role models and pushing me to be the best I can be,” she said.
After graduation, Lacy plans to complete a 10-week postgraduate internship at The New York Times. She is one of 32 interns selected from thousands of applicants from all over the world and the only Penn State student. She will begin in June as a social media editor in the 2018 class of New York Times summer interns.
The Virginia Todd Chapel Executive Internship Program was established by Virginia ‘Jinnie’ Todd Chapel and her husband, John, with leadership gifts creating a $2 million endowment. Virginia Todd Chapel graduated Penn State in 1956 as an English major. Virginia and John generously began the internship program in order to encourage liberal arts majors to pursue a career in the business/private sector. To learn more about the Chapel Executive Internship Program, visit http://www.la.psu.edu/current-students/cen/funding/the-virginia-todd-chapel-executive-internship-program.