By: Summer Kennard and Leilani Reklai
KOROR, Palau (July 25, 2024) – Palau National Scholarship Board (PNSB) interns presented their summer internship experiences at a forum held yesterday at Palau Community College Assembly Hall.
The event, attended by President Surangel Whipps and Senator Andrew Tabelual, provided a platform for 29 Palauan college students to showcase the knowledge and skills gained during their eight-week placements with local government agencies and organizations.
Hands-on Learning Fuels Growth
O’Keef R. Kokichi, a senior at Eastern Oregon University majoring in Information Technology Management, highlighted the practical application of his classroom learning during his internship. “The internship is a great way to do some hands-on based on what I’m learning,” Kokichi said. “I’ve learned basic knowledge in networking, but coming from a nearly completed Bachelor’s degree, you get to dig deeper.”
Sina J. Dilyolt Cooper, a senior at the University of Guam majoring in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, echoed Kokichi’s sentiment. “Going through college, I don’t retain much that I’ve learned because it’s condensed,” Cooper said. “Here, I was able to learn more about health, more specifically public health.”
Returning Home to Give Back
Several interns, like Kokichi, cited a desire to contribute to Palau’s development as a motivation for applying to the PNSB Fellowship Award program. “Schools are closed right now, and we live in a rural area,” Kokichi explained. “So why not come back home and take advantage of the opportunities that we have and do it here?”
Building Bridges and Communities
The forum also highlighted the role PNSB interns play in fostering connections between Palau and the broader Pacific Islander community. Kokichi, who works as a summer bridge mentor at EOU, spoke about his role in supporting incoming Palauan students. “We’re building a sense of community and then raising awareness for them to understand where we come from,” he said.
PNSB Fellowship Award
The PNSB Fellowship Award is a competitive program open to Palauan college students who are upcoming seniors, current seniors, or recent graduates. The program offers students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their chosen fields while contributing to Palau’s development. Internships are available twice a year, during summer and spring semesters. Applications for the summer internship program are due on April 1st, while the spring program deadline is November 1st. More information and application forms can be found on the PNSB website: http://www.pnsb.org/applications/.