Getting a “foot in the door” via an internship can often result in a full-time job offer. For some, internships offer opportunities to earn designated requirements for a degree. This year, four fantastic interns have gifted Shenandoah Valley Westminster-Canterbury (SVWC) with their presence, and in turn, they have learned a great deal and garnered priceless experience on our unique campus.
Katherine (Katie) Boehs took a huge leap of faith in venturing from her small town of Canyon, Texas, to complete a Music Therapy Internship at SVWC. Boehs studied Music Therapy at West Texas A & M. She has always loved music and helping people, and feels that God directed her path. Katie searched for opportunities through the American Music Therapy Association; she went through an application, interview, and audition process with Abigail Amidon, SVWC’s full-time Music Therapist and Donielle W. Palmer, SVWC’s Director of Resident Services, before being selected for the internship. Mr. and Mrs. Boehs accompanied their daughter on a tour of SVWC over Spring break and felt comfortable with her moving here temporarily. Katie’s fun personality and background as a keyboard player in her church for ten years, as well as her talent for playing guitar, helped to seal the deal.
Boehs will live on campus for six months, working full-time to complete additional clinical work to meet the required 1200 clinical hours for fulfillment of her bachelor’s degree in music therapy and to qualify for the board-certification exam to become a music therapist. She says she knows about 700 songs, which will come in handy as she meets our residents who have diverse tastes in music. In her work, she finds people’s strengths and expands on them. In past clinical experiences as a student, Katie has worked in a joint therapy facility with children to address physical and speech needs, a juvenile jail with teenaged boys using music therapy to address emotional goals, a bereavement group with children, and in hospice. Katie feels sure that she will get back to her roots in Texas eventually. For now, she is thoroughly enjoying her first adventure so far away from home, and the staff and residents are equally enamored with this friendly Texan wearing a big smile and cowboy boots!
Dan Hesse needed five units of Pastoral Education toward his Masters of Divinity Degree, and during his 26 weeks interning at SVWC, everyone grew accustomed to his thoughtful greetings. He spent 15 weeks shadowing Elizabeth Lewis and 11 weeks with Larry Lawhon, SVWC’s two full-time Chaplains.
When asked how he arrived at this place in his life, Dan says that at age seven, he “came to faith” while growing up on the Jersey Shore. At fourteen he had “a calling” to serve, as he lent a helping hand to elderly neighbors and relatives during most of his childhood and teen years. Hesse did a short stint in the military, served in two churches, assisted in the trauma unit at WVU Ruby Memorial, worked as a Missionary for twenty-two years, and even spent some years participating in a community radio program on a Southern Gospel Station. He plans to become a Board Certified Chaplain, which is very fitting for this big-hearted, caring soul. We are so grateful to have had Dan in our midst this spring and summer.
Rebecca (Beca) Kales was a student of Gale Bowman-Harlow’s for three years at Opus Oaks studio and then began taking art classes from Gale once she moved to SVWC, as the art teacher. Beca spent a year and a half assisting Gale with all sorts of projects, thanks to the flexibility that being homeschooled allowed. Kales says she always loved art in school, and according to Bowman-Harlow, Beca’s natural talent has just blossomed.
The twosome traveled with the art cart to engage residents in higher levels of care, and Beca quickly formed a bond with all of them. A few, in particular, were very special to her, and she was impressed by how kind, generous, and friendly everyone was. Kales believes that this experience helped her to “come out of her shell” and forced her to communicate more freely and to be accepting of others.
Beca’s internship with Gale helped her to determine that she wants to pursue a Masters Degree and become an Art Therapist. Her preference would be to work with either special needs children or the geriatric population. She said of Gale, “I adore her. She’s the best”! There is little doubt that Gale and the residents will miss Beca tremendously, as she headed to NOVA’s Loudoun Campus to begin college last week. We are pretty sure that we've not seen the last of Ms. Kales!
Thomas Papastavrou explains that his grandparents came to America from Greece and he was born in North Carolina, and then lived in East Tennessee before ending up in Winchester. He has been spotted on SVWC’s campus for a few years now, since he served in the Assisted Living dining room. “I love it here,” says Thomas. Last summer he shadowed SVWC’s Administrator, Michael Williams, who welcomed Thomas back for more hands-on education.
Papastravrou is on campus now completing his AIT (Administrator in Training) program, having graduated in May from JMU with a Bachelors in Health Administration. He says it was his time spent at SVWC that guided his choice of study. Thomas likes the residents and the environment, and it’s evident that he has a knack for interacting with our senior population. After completing 320 hours here, he will take his Boards, after which he says he is open to most any location for a future position. We feel confident that Thomas will be a huge success, wherever he ends up.
Soon, our Physical Therapy Department will welcome a new intern from Shenandoah University, which occurs fairly regularly. SVWC believes in fostering relationships such as these because everyone involved benefits. It's as simple as that.
