(Posted May 21, 2012)

Erin Kreischer, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa., is currently an intern at the State Department
Erin Kreischer, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa., is currently an intern at the State Department

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Erin Kreischer, a junior at Juniata College from Harrisburg, Pa., studying international politics, has been selected for a summer internship in the Bureau of African Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

Kreischer, the daughter of Paula Kreischer and Robert Heffelbower, of Harrisburg, and Cody and Rebecca Kreischer, of Harrisburg, will help research policy proposals and general office duties at the state department office.

This academic year, Kreischer has been away from Juniata working as an intern at the Peace Corps Coverdell World Wise Schools program at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. She worked on updating resource documents, and researched social media and marketing strategies for the agency. In fall 2011 she spent the semester studying abroad at the Universidad San Francisco in Quito, Ecuador and San Cristobal, Galapagos.

During spring 2012, Kreischer spent a semester taking a class on "How the U.S. Engages the Arab Middle East" at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C.

She was named Juniata's Outstanding Freshman of the Year in 2010 and received a 300-Hour AmeriCorps Education Award in 2011. Kreischer earned membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, the national leadership honor society and attended the Lead America Inauguration Conference in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

She has been active on campus, participating in the Model UN club, Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life. Kreischer is a Bonner Leader for community service and served as an Inbound Peer Leader for Juniata's Inbound orientation programs. In addition she served as fundraising organizer for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Committee and fundraising chair for Habitat for Humanity. She also was treasurer for her class.

Kreischer has amassed countless hours of community service while volunteering with Amazon watch, Huntingdon County Food Pantry, Huntingdon County Drop-in Center, Juniata Alternative Spring Break Trips, Juniata College Special Olympics and Juniata College Blood Drives.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.