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Profile of Elizabeth Cervini, Intern, Sunlight of the Spirit, 4/06
by Jamie Cortazzo Sterling
PPW/Writing Center Publicity Intern
Photo by Jack O'Brien

The most interesting on-site writing project senior Elizabeth Cervini completed for her internship has been a grant proposal that will fund her post graduation salary at The Sunlight of the Spirit (SOS), her current internship site. Elizabeth, who is finishing her English Writing (Nonfiction track) major and certificates in Public & Professional Writing (PPW) and Nonprofit Management, is currently interning 12 to 14 hours a week at SOS, which is a nondenominational, nonprofit organization aimed at improving the well-being of family members of people with chemical dependence. Often overlooked, these family members have often spent their last pennies sending their child to rehab and, as a result, battle depression and stress-related illnesses. Elizabeth notes that, “it’s hard to stop that downward spiral of the entire family when one [member] jumps into the terrible world of addiction.” But this is what SOS concentrates on doing.

Sunlight of the Spirit just received its nonprofit 501(c)(3) status last year and is, consequently, a brand new organization. So, Elizabeth is a very busy intern. She is responsible for writing many pieces, including newsletters, letters of inquiry for future grant requests, and cover letters for corporate sponsors. She also researches and summarizes material on chemical dependence. But her most challenging writing assignment has been the grant that will potentially fund her salary as Director of Development. This job will perfectly fit into Elizabeth’s future plans, which are to become a grant writer for a nonprofit organization in Pittsurgh within the next five years. She would like to stay at SOS because, as she says, “I’ve gotten pretty passionate about the mission so I think it would be a great experience to stay with them for at least a little while and help them get everything set up and running smoothly.

She would ideally also like to own a horse, which she will name Ruckus. But, she acknowledges that she may have to wait to get Ruckus until she’s been settled a few years!

Elizabeth feels that a PPW internship should be highly recommended to other writing students. She believes that the PPW certificate truly prepares students to write in the workplace. And, she makes the point that “This isn’t like the typical internship when you’re running to get coffee for your boss and getting everyone in the office lunch. You are hands-on and involved in major decisions. You’re valued as part of the organization.” Because of this, PPW interns gain experience that they wouldn’t get anywhere else.

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