October 21, 2025 —The Cabaret filled with conversation and connection as students, alumni, faculty, and community partners gathered to celebrate 10 years of the Marie and Rupert Tarver Summer Internship Program. The milestone event honored a decade of learning through service, where Marist students have strengthened the local community while discovering their own purpose.

A Milestone Moment

 
Jacob Gresens ’26 smiles at 10 Years of Tarver event. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.

“Together, 10 years signifies fresh starts with infinite potential, completion of a cycle and readiness for the next chapter, awareness, and personal development,” said Dr. Melissa Gaeke, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership.

The Tarver program pairs paid, full-time internships with a weekly seminar and on-campus housing, giving students from all majors the opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world experience. Since its inception, 66 interns have contributed nearly 17,000 hours to 24 community organizations, creating a lasting legacy of collaboration and impact that continues to grow.

Celebrating Connection and Growth

 
The 2024 Marie and Rupert Tarver Summer Interns present a summary of their work. From Left to right: Angel Fauerbach ’25, Ting Fischer ’25, Veronica Vogelman ’26, Maggie Hartman ’25, Dr. Melissa Gaeke, Director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Leadership, Charshell Lipai ’25, Molly Harnaga ’25, and Paschalyn Cama ’25. Photo by Benson Delaney '27/Marist University.

Throughout the evening, alumni, current students, faculty, and nonprofit partners shared how Tarver continues to shape lives and strengthen community ties. The program not only provides valuable professional experience but also fosters relationships that extend far beyond campus.

Noelle Santelli-Snyder '19, a Psychology major with art history and cognitive science minors, now a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, reflected on how the program’s interdisciplinary cohort helped her gain confidence and direction.

“Being part of Tarver was one of the highlights of my time at Marist,” she said. “The relationships I built and the lessons I learned still influence the way I approach my work as a therapist.”

Eliza Patterson '18, a political science major with a public relations minor, shared that her Tarver internship with Mental Health America led directly to her first job and affirmed her passion for mission-driven work.

“Don’t be afraid to make connections across departments,” she said. “Those relationships opened doors and confirmed that nonprofit work is where I belong.”

From the community perspective, Nyhisha T. Gibbes, Director of Community Engagement at Dutchess Outreach, described the mutual benefits of the program.

“Tarver interns bring creativity and capacity that small teams need,” she said. “They leave with more tools in their toolkit, and we grow stronger as an organization.”

Expanding Horizons

 
Gabriela Vega-Matthews, founder and CEO of Casa Comunitaria de Recursos speaks at 10 Years of Tarver event. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist University.

This year’s 10 interns represented five schools and eight majors, demonstrating how Tarver thrives on diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students are matched to nonprofit partners based on their interests and community needs, often discovering unexpected paths and passions in the process.

Dr. Martin Shaffer, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts, noted that the program exemplifies Marist’s strategic plan, Marist 100, which emphasizes academic vibrancy, student centrality, and community engagement.

“Tarver shows that every discipline has something valuable to contribute to the world of nonprofits,” he said.

Jacob Gresens '26, a Political Science and Spanish double major with a Global Studies minor, interned with Casa Comunitaria de Recursos, a local nonprofit connecting immigrant communities to essential resources.

“It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s happening on campus, but there is so much more in our community,” he said. “This experience helped me build confidence and understand how much impact students can have when they step outside the campus bubble.”

His supervisor, Gabriela Vega-Matthews, founder and CEO of Casa Comunitaria de Recursos, echoed his sentiments.

“I feel blessed to have students like Jacob working with us and learning from our community,” she said. “These internships always plant a seed. You might not see it grow right away, but the impact continues, both on the students and on the organizations they serve.”

Mutual Impact and Shared Purpose

 
Elena Tesluk '19, a political science major from Tucson, Arizona worked with the education team at The Poughkeepsie Farm Project as part of her Tarver Summer Internship Program. Photo by Carlo de Jesus/Marist University.

Community partners emphasized how Tarver-funded placements allow nonprofits to expand their reach while giving students the chance to lead meaningful projects.

John Garrity of Mental Health America explained, “The Tarver program is great because they fund an intern for a nonprofit that doesn't have the ability to pay a person of that quality. The quality you get with these interns is something you can’t put a price on.”

The evening concluded with poster presentations from recent Tarver interns, who shared the outcomes of their summer projects and reflected on their personal growth. Surrounded by mentors, peers, and community partners, they represent the next generation of the Tarver legacy, one rooted in connection, compassion, and the belief that learning is most powerful when it serves others.

“This moment allows us to reflect on the impact we have made,” Dr. Gaeke said. “When we really see it together, that's an incredible commitment and a wonderful kind of legacy that I think Marie and Rupert would be very proud to have their name attached to.”

*This article was produced with assistance from Tori Hegenauer ’27, Marketing and Communications student worker.