For nearly three decades, Colgate University’s Jim P. Manzi ’73 Fellowship has provided a pathway for more than 300 students to pursue nonprofit summer internships in the Boston area. The fellowship extends Colgate's engagement with community-based organizations while providing fellows with a stipend and covering housing expenses during the 10-week program.
This summer, the program selected 12 Manzi Fellows — a reflection of their commitment to service-based work and a desire to continue in the field after graduation. Fellows gained experience in health care, education, and community service, each bringing their liberal arts background and skills to the host organizations.
Garrett Zimmerman ’26 interned at Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center, part of the Boston Medical Center health system. He helped provide care to the greater Boston community as a medical assistant by performing screenings and taking vitals of patients, streamlining online accessibility, processing medical records, and helping schedule appointments.
Zimmerman’s work was instrumental to his future career path. “I have no doubt now that I hope to work in a public health care setting directly helping populations in need, and the soft and hard skills I developed this summer will help me achieve great things down the road,” Zimmerman says.
While interning at Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Grace Ciaravino ’26 supported patients in Boston’s immigrant community. Like Zimmerman’s, this internship influenced Ciaravino’s health care plans post graduation. “In addition to pursuing an MD after Colgate, I would like to pursue a master’s of public health to better address systemic barriers to care,” Ciaravino says.
Returning fellow Josephine DeBono ’26 worked at the day shelter Women’s Lunch Place. She worked with the direct care team to coordinate essential services, translate for Spanish-speaking guests, and assist with the shelter’s daily operations. The hands-on learning at Women’s Lunch Place confirmed her desire to serve vulnerable populations with a career in law, politics, and public service.
David Stephens ’26 and Gracie DeSimone ’27 worked at InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW), an organization that began as a gym to keep at-risk young people off the streets but has since evolved into a comprehensive community support network. The organization now provides education, job training, and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated youth. Working on the development team, Stephens and DeSimone discovered how financial tracking methods and consulting practices can positively impact small nonprofits. “It has inspired me to pursue a career in consulting, with the goal of focusing on the public and nonprofit sectors,” said DeSimone. “Most importantly, I am grateful for the chance to contribute to ICW’s mission and make a tangible difference in the lives of others.”
A senior planning to apply to doctoral programs this fall, Katie Nettles ’26 worked at the education nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves, where she supported summer course offerings, quality assurance, and alternative learning methods research. “This experience could not have come at a better time,” Nettles says. “Working with Facing History affirmed my passion for education and gave me valuable skills to take with me in the future.”
Meet all of the 2025 Manzi Fellows
Grace Ciaravino ’26, Katherine Cline ’27, Josephine DeBono ’26, Gracie DeSimone ’27, Sophia Green ’27, Julianna Hallyburton ’26, Allie Kavalauskas ’26, Molly O’Brien ’27, Katie Nettles ’26, David Stephens ’26, Cristian Teruel ’26, and Garrett Zimmerman ’26