Summer College Internship Program (Closed)

Thomas A. Bannon Summer Internship Program

(Accepting Applications for Summer 2025)

This summer internship program is dedicated to Mr. Thomas A. Bannon, a retired teacher who dedicated his life to his students by teaching them to learn from "out of classroom" experiences as well as by infusing advanced science concepts into early education curriculum. Mr. Bannon began teaching in the Ashland School System in September 1972 as a 4th grade teacher at the Warren School. In September of 1981, Mr. Bannon moved to the David Mindess Middle School, but continued to teach 4th grade. During his tenure, Mr. Bannon taught his students to creatively think and introduced various aspects of science into their core curriculum, including owl pellet dissection, bones, astronomy, workings of the heart and how things grow (both plants and people). Mr. Bannon was always eager to bring in experts from various fields such as United States Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), United States Army Soldier's Systems Command, Mr. John Stasick (astronomy), Mrs. Leah Berthold (student height and weight measurements) and BioSurfaces, in order to provide his students a different, "hands-on" approach to science. Mr. Bannon retired in 2008 after serving as a teacher for over 36 years.

This summer internship program, which began in 2008 and is currently funded by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, is designed for college students who have at least completed their third year of college and are looking to gain laboratory research experience. Students must be either residents of Massachusetts, attending a Massachusetts University/College, or recently completed a 4 year program to be considered for this internship . Applicants for this position must demonstrate the same passion for science and learning that Mr. Bannon has demonstrated throughout his career. Students applying for this internship, which is 8-12 weeks in duration and includes a stipend, must be majoring in the physical or biological science, have a passion for learning and bring a strong work ethic.

2008 Recipient Michael Dion, Assumption College (Worcester, MA)

2009 Recipients Syed Ali, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)

Paige Dupre, Quinsigamond Community College (Worcester, MA)

2010 Recipients Samantha Brown, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)

Andrew Capulli, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)

2011 Recipients Kara Larson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)

Andrew Spiewak, University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI)

Caitlin Meeks, Tufts University (Medford, MA)

2013 Recipient Joshua Araya, Northeastern University (Boston, MA)

2017 Recipients Talia D'Ambruoso, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA)

2018 Recipients Kirsten Harnden, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA)

Rayan Kassab, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA)

Curtis Robie, University of Maine (Orono, ME)

2019 Recipients Kyle Golden, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA)

Hailey Boucher, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (North Dartmouth, MA)

2020 Recipients Katie Leon, Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, NY)

Logan Gaudette, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, MA)

2021 Recipients Benjamin Pepper - University of Massachusetts Amherst

2022 Recipients Emily Pacheco - Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Emma Cannon - University of Delaware

2023 Recipients Jacob Pierson - University of Delaware

Elizabeth Labbe - University of Massachusetts Amherst

Adrianna Niles - Worcester Polytechnic Institute