Announcing the 2025 Intern of the Year Award winners

The Aspire Program is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025 Intern of the Year Awards, an annual celebration honoring dedicated, driven, and inspiring students who have gone above and beyond in their internship experiences. 

Internships play a critical role in bridging the gap between academic coursework and professional experience. They empower students to apply their knowledge in practical settings, develop critical skills, and discover their potential. This year, we were proud to receive a record number of nominations, making 2025 the most competitive year to date. The submissions were filled with stories of perseverance, innovation, and impact.

To honor the breadth and diversity of student experiences, we’ve highlighted achievements in five distinct categories:

Interns in a for-profit organization

Honorable Mentions

• Drake Stratton ’27 — Chicago Bears
• Isaak Gotberg ’25 — Deloitte
• Savannah Reisner ’25 — Andis Company

Award Recipient
AJ Motley ’26 — AbbVie
Power BI Developer / Data Analyst Intern
AJ stood out for his commitment to continuous learning and leadership, stating: “I used every opportunity to grow, give back, and lead with purpose.”

Interns in a non-profit organization

Honorable Mentions

• Anna Kegel  ’26 — Northwestern Medicine
• Emma Newcomb ’25 — Hospice Alliance
• Madelyn Bochat ’26 — Rincon Family Services
• Natasha Striegel ’25 — Impact Family & Child Therapies

Award Recipient
Ydalia De Leon ’25 — ELCA Outreach Center
Social Work Intern
Described by her nominators as someone who “serves clients tirelessly and works hard to promote new policies that will serve them even better.”

Government Interns

Honorable Mentions

• Jacky Wintersheimer ’25 — Kenosha Public Library
• Kyah Jernigan ’25 — City of Kenosha
• Lorin Bucur ’25 — U.S. State Department
• Adrian Maciejewski ’26 — Kenosha Police Department

Award Recipient
Aiden Stahl ’26 — City of Kenosha
Elections intern
Aiden’s contributions were so impactful that he was invited to continue his work beyond the internship — a testament to his professionalism and dedication.

On-campus interns

Honorable Mentions

• Gwen Hendrick ’25 — Office of Marketing and Communications
• Emily Vydra ’26 — Office of Marketing and Communications
• Aaliseyah Winston ’25 — Athletics, Football

Award Recipients (Tie)
Gabby Tanguay ’25 — Office of Equity and Inclusion
Gabby led the development of Mental Health Mondays and a BIPOC mental health resource guide, both of which had a significant and lasting impact on the student community.

Olivia Rogers ’25 — Athletics Communication
Olivia distinguished herself through her adaptability and creative excellence, contributing across communications platforms — from writing and photography to social media and live announcing.

Research interns

Honorable Mentions

• Frannie Drake ’25 — Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Grace Krueger ’25 — Carthage SURE Program — Biology

Award Recipient
Lilli Hosfield ’27 — Field Museum of Natural History
Lilli’s steadfast commitment to research in paleontology, even in the face of challenges, exemplifies scholarly perseverance and passion.

Thank you and congratulations

We extend our sincere gratitude to all who submitted nominations and to the faculty and staff who support our students in these transformative experiences. Your mentorship and guidance help make achievements like these possible.

Please join us in congratulating all of this year’s honorees. Their work reflects the very best of Carthage College.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

The Aspire Program

For more information, contact:

Amy Malczewski