CMAS Scholarship Recipients
de Lissovoy Scholarship Recipients
2024-25
My name is Cassidy Monaghan and I am a sophomore at Penn State from Bucks County, PA. I am majoring in Elementary Education and double minoring in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies and Special Education. Although the Children’s Advocacy Center internship experience may seem unrelated to education, I strongly believe that getting to know these children and families in tough situations will better prepare me for working with students and families of diverse backgrounds and life experiences. I’m so excited to become a part of the Centre County CAC and I can’t wait to see how this internship aids in my future endeavors in teaching and forming relationships in my classroom!
My name is Priya Tang and I am currently a sophomore at Penn State majoring in Criminology and minoring in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies. Upon completing my education at Penn State, I plan to attend law school and become a criminal prosecutor, eventually making my way to a private defense attorney advocating for victims as well as those who were wrongfully accused or prosecuted. I will be interning at Centre County CYS where I hope to expand my knowledge to better understand and advocate for my future clients, specifically those who are victims of abuse. I hope to learn about the roles of the multidisciplinary teams that have an impact on ensuring child well being and safety. As a former foster youth and current camp counselor to children including those in low income households and foster care, I am very grateful for this opportunity to be able be the best advocate I can be.
2023-24
My name is Jasmine Kaypour and I am a Junior at Penn State with a major in Criminology and a double minor in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies and Art. In the future, I plan to go to law school and become a criminal prosecutor to advocate and seek justice for victims of abuse and their families. After taking one CMAS course in my sophomore year, I knew that I wanted to dedicate my future to making a difference for these children. I am incredibly grateful for this experience to be interning at the Centre County Child Advocacy Center. I genuinely believe it will help me in my professional career as I learn to effectively communicate with and assist victims of abuse. I hope to learn more about the multisystemic approach to handling these cases and see how members of these multidisciplinary teams interact with one another. I am confident that this experience will provide me with valuable knowledge and insight to make a difference in the future.
My name is Megan McBride and I am a junior from Bucks County, PA. My major is Telecommunications & Media Industries, and my minors are Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) and Child Maltreatment Advocacy Studies (CMAS). After I graduate, I plan to attend law school and become a family lawyer! Getting the opportunity to work at Centre County CYS will afford me the hands-on experience I will not be able to get at any law schools. I hope to form a deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes of the cases and courtrooms I will work with in the future. My goal is to be as empathetic and fair as possible in my future career, and I know this internship will teach me invaluable lessons about the child welfare system and the families involved with it.
Past de Lissovoy interns:
2022-23
- Julia Clemens, Psychology and Criminology
- Elena Eckenrode, Nursing
- Alexis Murphy-Costanzo, Psychology
2021-22
- Josie Currie, Nursing
- Devon Gannon, Nursing
2020-21
- Gianna Gordon, Nursing
- Julia Santoro, Rehabilitation and Human Services
2019-20
- Stephanie Howell, Immunology and Infectious Disease
- Samantha Niagara, Human Development and Family Studies
- Grace Pulido, Nursing
2018-19
- Haley Engelman, Psychology
- Kayla Clements, Criminology
- Kelsey Ort, Criminology
2017-18
- Rachel Coval, Human Development and Family Studies
- Lydia Harris, Nursing
2016-17
- Margaret Costa, Science
- Alexis Jefferson, Nursing
Current Reducing Disparities in Child Welfare interns:
2024-25
My name is Keya Ahrestani and I am a senior at Penn State University majoring in Psychology and on the path to earn three minors: (1) Child Maltreatment & Advocacy Studies, (2) Spanish, and (3) Health Policy & Administration. In the future, I am highly interested in working in either public health or pursuing international law to weave together my passions for children's welfare and women's rights. I will be working with the school counselor and community at Young Scholars School for my capstone experience. I look forward to learning more about the children and families who are struggling in our community and what we can and are doing to support them. I also hope to gain useful information about how to support local minority and culturally diverse communities in order to further my exposure to disparities.
Hi, my name is Sofia Chickos from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am currently a junior majoring in criminology and minoring in both Spanish and Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies. After graduating from Penn State, I plan to attend law school. My internship site is at the Mount Nittany Middle School as a part of their Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Program in State College. As an intern, I hope to learn more about the inner workings within the program and how this specific program could be replicated in other educational establishments. I’m looking forward to expanding my problem-solving skills and using my educational background within the CMAS minor to its full effect. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to next spring!
2023-24
My name is Hannah Donnell and I am currently a junior majoring in Biobehavioral Health and minoring in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies. After graduation, I am planning to attend medical school and work towards becoming a pediatrician. My internship site is at the State College Youth Service Bureau (YSB) JUMP program in spring 2024. One of my biggest passions is helping others, especially kids and their families, so I am beyond grateful to have this opportunity. While being involved in the YSB-JUMP program, I am hoping to learn more about how to become a mentor for the youth and how the program helps the children improve their behaviors.
My name is Hannah Majofsky and I am a junior at Penn State with a major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and a minor in Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies. In the future, I plan to become an elementary school teacher. I have always had a love for children, and in my future career I want to ensure that I am fully equipped to support and protect my students. Through the CMAS minor, I will have a deeper understanding of how I, as a future educator, can work towards recognizing and preventing child maltreatment. I am extremely grateful to be granted the opportunity to work with the Centre County Child and Youth Services. Through this hands-on experience, I can gain the knowledge necessary to ensure that I am a well-equipped future educator.
Past Reducing Disparities in Child Welfare interns:
2022-23
- Julia Chan, Nursing major, HDFS minor
2021-22
- Janiyah Davis, Criminology and Psychology
- Lani Rosenbaum, Psychology
Past McNair Scholar:
2021-2022
- Silvia Barboza, Psychology