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For Sebastian Mrotzek ’28, addressing hunger means thinking about both what a community needs today and what could make that need less common tomorrow.

An economics major at ������Ƶ College, Mrotzek spent the summer working with local organizations focused on food access as part of the College’s Summer of Service program. His experience has taken him from stocking the community fridge at Drake Community Library and helping with community meals to volunteering with organizations working throughout ������Ƶ and Poweshiek County.

For Roland Swank ‘29 a summer internship with the Iowa Faith & Climate Network offered an opportunity to explore a question sparked by attending one of the organization’s conferences: What does Islam say about caring for the environment?

A rising third-year student from Bemidji, Minnesota, Roberts is spending the summer as an intern at Mahaffey Law Firm, splitting his time between its ������Ƶ and Montezuma offices. A double major in political science and anthropology and a member of ������Ƶ’s swimming and diving team, he came to the internship with an interest in law but little experience with the day-to-day work of a law office.

Through interviews with longtime residents in Des Moines and Iowa City, a Summer MAPs project examines how lived experiences shape perspectives on neighborhood change, housing affordability, and local politics.

As generative artificial intelligence reshapes classrooms, workplaces, and daily life, Professor of Computer Science Fernanda Eliott believes one of the most important questions isn’t what AI can do — it’s how people can continue thinking deeply alongside it.

As a summer intern with the ������Ƶ Area Arts Council (GAAC), Pruszinski's work spans nearly every aspect of the organization—from youth arts education and public programming to nonprofit administration and communications. The experience is helping her grow as an educator while offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a community arts organization thriving.

This summer, ������Ƶ College is investing more than $1.2 million to ensure students can pursue meaningful research, internships, and community-engaged learning experiences that prepare them for lives of purpose and impact.

A summer Mentored Advanced Project explores the history of one of English’s most enduring words.

This summer that passion evolved through her volunteer work with ������Ƶ’s Civic Education & Innovation (CEI) Summer of Service program with the ������Ƶ Fire Department and regional emergency response organizations. Rather than focusing solely on emergency response, the position introduces Trujillo to the many agencies working together to strengthen public health, emergency preparedness, and community safety throughout Poweshiek County.

As part of his Mentored Advanced Project (MAP) in the Department of English, Schlimm is examining how one of the world's most popular trading card games tells stories—not just through its artwork and characters, but through the rules and mechanics that shape how the game is played. Working with Stephen Andrews, associate professor of English and director of the Center for the Humanities, Schlimm is examining what happens when a game known for its fantasy worlds ventures into new genres—and what those changes can reveal about culture and history.