The goal is to fund an internship at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (or National Zoo, Air and Space, etc) – dedicated to a CWU science student. One per year. 10 weeks during the summer.
This will be an epic opportunity for a CWU student (can you imagine the resume boost?) and will help support the Smithsonian.
Upcoming dinners will be on September 8 (5:00-7:00 at The Ridge) (featuring a presentation by the 2026 winner), 12 January (5:00 at the Pickle), and 4 May (5:00 at the Pickle) They’ve offered to donate a percentage of that night’s profits. Thanks, Mario and Ale!
Each internship costs $8000 ($7k for the student stipend, $1k for travel). All the raised funds go to the student!
The good thing is that the Smithsonian has an entire internship office (they have over 1000 fully funded interns per year) – they handle accepting funds, managing applications, helping find a place to live, professional development, social stuff, etc etc.
Honestly, I want to do one….
The 2026 internship was won by Zoe Alberti, a biology undergraduate. She’ll be working at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. She will give a presentation about her experience on Tuesday, 8 September at 5:30 at The Ridge (there’s space for a crowd, etc there). It will be zoomed for those not local!
Visit this page for application details
Once the deadline has passed, I receive the applications and put together a small committee: me representing the earth sciences, Holly representing the life sciences, Carin Thomas representing chemistry, and one person from the Smithsonian. Andy Piacsek (physics) will serve as an alternate if needed. We’ll pick a winner and turn things back over to the Smithsonian.
The winner will need to come back to Ellensburg and give a public presentation about their experience at our fall dinner. The presentation will be open to pretty much anyone – and will be streamed via zoom to donors who can’t make it in person.
Only CWU students majoring in geology, biology, environmental studies, chemistry, and physics will be eligible (gotta do something to make this manageable). See this video about Smithsonian Internships.
The Smithsonian nixxed calling the winner a “Krakentern” (after my dog) – we settled on the Manastash Intern. Which is close, because Kraken is the Hound of the Manastash (her favorite place to hike). Thus, all advertising pics include Kraken at the ridge.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to join us for dinner to donate, you can push the donate button at will! 🙂
2026/27 Progress toward $8000
- After first dinner (September):
- After first round of email requests (October):
- After second dinner (January):
- After second round of emails (February):
- After third dinner (May):
2026/2027 Donation levels
Gold ($1000 or more)
Silver ($500 -$999)
- Robert Hickey
Bronze ($250-$499)
Past Winners
- 2026: Zoe Alberti – Biological Sciences undergraduate. Worked at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.
- 2023-2025: we raised $7915 for the CWU Wildcat Food Pantry, Friends of the Brooks Library, the DHC emergency assistance fund, the CWU Cap and Gown fund, the Kittitas Audubon Society scholarship fund, and the CWU Men of Color Affinity Group.
