This past spring season, GOTR NOVA was thrilled to welcome one returning and two new interns. Our internships are designed to help interns grow their existing skills and gain new ones along the way.

Meet Courtney Moses, Development Intern
Courtney Moses, a junior Psychology major at George Mason University, joined us for her second semester as a Development intern. She discovered GOTR through her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, whose philanthropy is Girls on the Run!

Courtney's work included grant research, sponsor management, and donor data entry.

Introducing Our Program Interns: Daphne Boteler and Eliana Zelaya
Daphne Boteler just graduated from George Mason University with a degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. She's continuing her studies in an accelerated Masters of Education program at GMU. 

Eliana Zelaya, a GOTR alumna, was a Communications major at Northern Virginia Community College and will transfer to James Madison University in the fall. 

As program interns, Daphne and Eliana assisted with data collection, social media management, and volunteer coordination, bringing fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to the team.

 

 

 

 

 

Some may say an internship is an internship, but I would argue that GOTR internships are the best internships. Read on to get the inside scoop from the interns themselves!

 

What emotion are you experiencing on your first day as a GOTR NOVA intern?

Daphne - Nervousness/Anxiousness because this is my very first internship ever! I do not really know what to expect.

Eliana - I am definitely really excited, but also pretty nervous. I think I feel these emotions because Girls on the Run means a lot to me and I care so much about doing a good job for the organization.

Courtney - Excitement because Girls on the Run has a cause that I strongly admire, and I am so grateful I can be a part of this team! 

 

What are you looking forward to the most during your internship?

Daphne - Trying something new and being a part of the GOTR NOVA team. 

Eliana - I'm looking forward to learning new things and seeing how much effort/work it takes to make a GOTR season great. There's so much that goes on behind the scenes to make everything go smoothly for the participants, coaches, and parents and I am so happy to be a part of that. 

Courtney - I love that I'll be working with an all-women team and am so excited to be a part of this community.

 

What was your favorite part about your internship and why?

Daphne - My favorite part of the internship was familiarizing myself with all the teams that participated in GOTR. Another fun part was going to the coach trainings and the 5K. 

Eliana - My favorite part about my internship was that I was able to explore my creativity when it came to social media posts, projects, flyers etc. It was very fulfilling to know that people would view my work, engage with it or find the information they needed. 

Courtney - Meetings with my director Catherine and Sammy! It was always a highlight of my week to talk to them and catch up about work, but also new personal things going on!

 

What is your most fond memory from your internship?

Daphne - My favorite memory from the internship were the team lunches we had together. It was a fun time to get to know the team better plus we got to eat some yummy food. 

Eliana - My favorite memory was experiencing the entire 5K at Pentagon City as a staff member. At one point, I was taking videos of the runners while wearing my pink vest and it felt like everything had come full circle—I had once been a participant running my first 5K and now I was twenty working with the organization that had made such a positive impact on my life. 

Courtney - I LOVED meeting and working with everyone at Trivia Night! It was such a fun experience and way to engage the community, but also become closer with my coworkers.

 

What would you tell someone who was on the fence about applying to be a GOTR NOVA intern?

Daphne - DO IT!!!! It's so much fun and the team is AMAZING! 

Eliana - Do it! Especially if it's your first internship or if you're a Communications major. It's also a great internship if you're looking for one that offers flexible hours or can be done remotely. 

Courtney - Just learn about it! Even if you may think it's not for you, there are opportunities to shape your own experience here and many avenues to explore.

 

If you could use the knowledge and experience you have now to go back and tell yourself one thing prior to starting your internship, what would it be?

Daphne - Don't stress too much. This is your first internship and you are still learning.

Eliana - I would tell myself that all my hard work will be worth it! 

Courtney - It's all going to be ok - I was really nervous when I started because this was my first real internship and development role, and I think I came out with more skills, knowledge, and confidence!

 

What are some skills you gained during your internship?

Daphne - The biggest skill that I gained during my internship is patience. There were many times when I had to work on spreadsheets, go through data, or count 200+ books. The biggest thing I kept telling myself is "don't worry the work will get done, don't rush and be patient." 

Eliana - A few skills I gained during my internship would be that I learned how to communicate more effectively online, was able to build on my graphic design skills on Canva, and improved on my social media writing skills. Throughout the process, my creativity and confidence grew as well. 

Courtney - I chose to lean more into the administration side of this internship. As a result, have a much better understanding of the grant process as well as various donation platforms. I also honed writing skills, designed graphics, researched other foundations, and now know how to read a 990 form!

 

What is the most prominent emotion you are experiencing as your internship comes to an end? Why do you think you are feeling this way?

Daphne - Sad. My experience with GOTR has been incredible. Not only has it been great working with the team, but I have also made some great connections with the other interns. Now I need to figure out what to do with my Mondays and Wednesdays (when I was in the office)!

Eliana - Gratitude! I feel extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to work with such an amazing organization and was able to meet such supportive people in the process. 

Courtney - It feels bittersweet - I have been with GOTR Nova since August 2023, and after an amazing year, it's over! I am so thankful for this experience, and I have come a long way (even personally) since I started. It marks a proud moment of my blossoming career and also marks my nearing college graduation!

 

We are so thankful for the energy, ideas, and assistance these three brought to our office this year! They truly embody the spirit of GOTR by living with joy, optimism, and gratitude. We can't wait to see where their journeys take them next.

Are you interested or know someone who may be interested in interning at GOTR NOVA? Check out our internship opportunities here!