Rosemont Junior Earns Internship in San Diego
Joe Darrah - April 26, 2019
The Rosemont community extends beyond our beautiful campus, and far beyond Pennsylvania! Deaynna Koskulitz ’20, of Hazelton is one example of the places our students go.
Deaynna Koskulitz is currently serving a Summer 2019 internship as a Legal Administrative Assistant at Casa Cornelia Law Center, a public-interest law firm based in San Diego, CA. The firm provides pro bono services to victims of human and civil rights violations.
During her stay, Deaynna, a junior at Rosemont, the President of College's literary journal Thorn, and the Vice President of the College’s book club, will be visiting with Rosemont College alumni and will chronicle her experiences for RoCo. To follow her ongoing journey with us, continue to revisit this page.
Update #1
I’m enjoying my internship at Casa Cornelia, between the people I have met and things I have learned so far. I have been specifically placed as an intern with the Victims of Crime program, though Casa Cornelia is flexible on assigning tasks, especially based on need. I’ve also been able to assist the Unaccompanied Children program.
Most of my work includes filling out various paperwork/applications based on client information, assisting to prepare various types of applications (like asylum, T Visas, and U Visas) to be sent out for clients, and properly processing client information into digital files and paper files.
- T Visas allow certain victims of human trafficking, and immediate family members, to remain in the country and work temporarily, typically if they report the crime to law enforcement and agree to help in the investigations and/or prosecutions of the crimes.
- U Visas are those for victims of crimes, and their immediate family members, who have suffered mental or physical abuse while in the United States and are willing to assist law enforcement and government officials in investigations and/or prosecutions.
This week, we spent time learning about the function of these visas.
I’m looking forward to what else I might be learning this summer, especially since my supervisor has planned weekly meetings with myself and a few other interns to discuss and answer any questions we have about various legal processes within immigration and what Casa Cornelia does to serve their migrant population.
Recently, a small party was held for interns and staff members so that everyone could become better acquainted. I was able to get a picture with some of Casa Cornelia’s staff members, as well as the two Society of the Holy Child Jesus (SHCJ) sisters who founded Casa Cornelia.
From left are: Katherine Paculba Lacher, Esq., Pro Bono Program Director; Sr. Mary Wayne Gradon, SHCJ, co-founder of Casa Cornelia; myself; Sr. Ann Durst, SHCJ, Esq., co-founder of Casa Cornelia; and Carmen Chavez, Esq., Executive Director.
I also got to spend the day with Lauraine Esparza (also photoed with me), Rosemont Class of ’68, who is the alumna who got me in touch with Margie Wahlsten, my very kind hostess in San Diego. I also visit Balboa Park, a National Historic Landmark, quite frequently because it’s within walking distance to where I am staying (photos included with this post).
The park is an impressive, large collection of museums, various gardens, and the like (many of which I still have yet to explore!), with a rose garden being one of them. I particularly enjoyed it, as it felt like a beautiful reminder of Rosemont back home.
I will continue to send updates, both from my internship and my San Diego exploring!