HWS News
1 October 2025 Historical Research Internships Shed Light on the Region
Through internships, students develop and expand their interests in history and the area.
During the FLX Summer Internship program, HWS students gained career experience, while engaging with aspects of the local community. At the Geneva History Museum, students worked as archival interns, as they dove into Geneva’s rich history.
Archivist and City of Geneva Historian Becky Chapin led Maya Alvarez ’28 and Andrew Pilet ’26 through the archival and exhibit process, as the museum develops an exhibit on the 250th anniversary of America. Chapin says creating an exhibit involves intense investigation.
Part of the internship experience provided the chance to explore different interests within a career or position. Chapin’s goal was to offer the students an opportunity to test a variety of the responsibilities that are part of an archivist’s position.
“I found introducing a variety of different projects that we do here really gave them a well-rounded experience,” Chapin says. “Maybe they’ll say ‘Well, I like this part but not that part.’”
Pilet, a Geneva native, says he became more interested in local history when he entered college and learned about the region.
“I became suddenly aware of a dense lived history in Geneva that I hadn't seen before; having the opportunity now to work in the place that has fostered that interest is really exciting,” he says.
As a major in English and creative writing and minor in Greek, Pilet plans to pursue an MFA in creative writing after he graduates, with the goal of pursuing publishing. However, as he has engaged in more archival and historical research, he sees a potential opportunity to embed this work in his future career.
For Alvarez, the internship provided the opportunity to expand the skills she has gained as an art history major and critical museum studies minor, which will be advantageous as she pursues a career in museum curation.
“This internship has undoubtedly given me a huge step up when it comes to understanding archives and museum practices,” Alvarez says. “I am happy to say that working under the Geneva History Museum has given me a boost of confidence when it comes to certainty about my career path.”
Top: Andrew Pilet '26 and Maya Alvarez '28 look over archival items inside the Geneva History Museum.
