JMF is excited to introduce our Fall 2020 Interns! These IUPUI and UIndy students are giving their time this semester to help JMF create new and engaging digital content for our program partners. Keep reading to learn more about all three of these impressive students.
Tell us a little about yourself! What’s your name, what do you go by, what’re your pronouns, where you’re from, etc.
My name is Marissa Legault and unfortunately there aren’t many good nicknames to come out of that so I go by Marissa (she/her). I grew up in New Carlisle, a small town in northwest Indiana. I completed my undergraduate degree at Indiana University in Bloomington where I majored in exercise science and minored in psychology. I moved to the Indianapolis area for graduate school in the spring of 2018. I am an IU Occupational Therapy Clinical Doctorate Student at IUPUI.
Why did you decide to volunteer at JMF?
When searching for a site to be paired with for my capstone project, I was looking for an organization that shared my passion for educating youth with a basis in holistic values. JMF provides invaluable services to their community and I am continually inspired by the selfless work they do to encourage and support youths and their families in the Indianapolis area. Working with the Foundation is allowing me to connect my passions with my work in a way I have always dreamt of.
What does JMF mean to you?
To me, JMF means bringing people together to assure that each member of the community receives equitable treatment and opportunities.
How do you think your talents and skills help serve JMF’s mission?
Occupational therapy is a profession which is client-centered and evidence-based. Through my studies I have gained the skills to observe and research various aspects impacting the daily lives of individuals, and apply that knowledge to interventions which are aimed to improve quality of life.
What are you doing for JMF during your internship? And what are you most excited about for this project?
I am working with JMF to adapt their programs so that they are able to be implemented into the new, socially distanced, structure in schools. This will look like assessing various aspects of the curriculum, creating virtual learning materials, and implementing evidence-based interventions. I am most excited about getting to work and interact with members of the community who are passionate about what they do.
What’re your plans post-internship?
I will be graduating with my doctorate in occupational therapy in May of 2021. I currently don’t have anything specific lined up, however I hope to be in a pediatric setting that allows me to pursue my interests of working with the mind-body connection and sensory integration.
How do you think the skills used in this internship will serve you in the future?
There are many skills I will gain from this internship such as experience working in a community setting, program assessment, curriculum planning, virtual education, and leadership skills.
Finally, is there anything else you’d like to say?
I would just like to thank JMF for being so welcoming and making me feel supported in my work. It is a pleasure to be paired with an organization which values each of their team members.
Tell us a little about yourself! What’s your name, what do you go by, what’re your pronouns, where you’re from, etc.
My name is Darby Culp and I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy student at UIndy! My preferred pronouns are she/her and I graduated with my Bachelors in exercise science from UIndy in 2019. I am from Cicero, Indiana and family is very important to me. I have 10 nieces and nephews so I travel home quite frequently.
Why did you decide to volunteer at JMF?
I decided to start volunteering for JMF in 2016 when a representative came and spoke to my class. I felt very connected to the mission of JMF and specifically adapting any and all exercise modalities so children of all abilities could participate. I volunteered for two summers with the Joseph Maley Fitness program and their swimming and cheerleading sessions. I loved it and knew when another volunteering opportunity came up in my DPT program that I wanted to work with JMF again! I think that my enjoyment of working with kids, combined with my growing skill set as a student physical therapist allows me to help create new content including physical activity for JMF and their programs.
What are you doing for JMF during your internship? And what are you most excited about for this project?
I am working with the other interns to create videos that can be used in classrooms to get kids moving and to supplement JMF’s disABILITY Awareness program. These exercises are going to be a wonderful resource for teachers to use in these stressful COVID-19 times, and hopefully will also be a great way to get kids of all abilities active and engaged while at school!
What’re your plans post-internship?
My plans post internship are to continue my DPT program, which I will complete in 2022, and become a licensed physical therapist! My time with JMF will certainly help me learn how to be more creative, and fine-tune my skills of working with a pediatric population!
Tell us a little about yourself! What’s your name, what do you go by, what’re your pronouns, where you’re from, etc.
Hi! My name is Allison Ketcham, and I am from South Bend, Indiana. I am currently in graduate school at the University of Indianapolis working on my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Before UIndy, I went to Valparaiso University for my bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. I played volleyball at Valpo and really love to play any sports or games in my free time!
Why did you decide to volunteer at JMF?
I decided to volunteer at JMF to fulfill my service-learning project in the physical therapy program. Service-learning gives me the opportunity to learn from, and about, an organization that I may have never encountered. At the same time, I am able to use my knowledge and abilities to help the organization with a project they would like to accomplish. I had never heard of JMF before this opportunity, but I love JMF’s mission and what it stands for. To me, JMF acts to empower children of all abilities.
What are you doing for JMF during your internship? And what are you most excited about for this project?
During my internship with JMF, I will be helping to create video resources for schools and programs to use during the COVID-19 crisis when many things cannot be done in person. I am excited to help JMF continue with its mission during these hard times, and I am excited to hopefully impact the lives of many children. For many of these videos, I will be helping brainstorm activities that target movement and physical development.
How do you think your talents and skills help serve JMF’s mission?
I believe that what I have learned at UIndy about the physical aspects of the body will help me serve JMF’s mission. While I will bring my skills and knowledge to this internship, I believe that I will learn a lot from interacting with all of the staff at JMF.
What’re your plans post-internship?
After this internship, I will have about a year and a half left of graduate school. After that, I hope to find a job in the Midwest as a physical therapist!
How do you think the skills used in this internship will serve you in the future?
One of the skills I will use most after this internship will be the ability to adapt exercises and skills for people of all abilities. As a physical therapist, this will be a large part of my career as every patient I see will have different abilities and health concerns.