WAIMEA — Riley Atkinson will join W. M. Keck Observatory as a Kamehameha Schools Kapili ‘Oihana intern.
Atkinson, a rising sophomore at Columbia University in New York, will contribute her expertise and gain work experience this summer in donor, media and community relations.
Atkinson is the first Kapili ‘Oihana intern to be placed at a Maunakea observatory.
Kapili ‘Oihana is a program founded by Kamehameha Schools in 2009 “designed to cultivate and maintain relationships with employers statewide who are committed to providing college students with enriched opportunities to build their professional network, develop transferable skills, and create solutions to real-world challenges.”
“We can’t wait for Riley to contribute her expertise and creative energy at Keck Observatory,” said Rich Matsuda, chief of operations at Keck Observatory. “Kapili ‘Oihana aligns well with our efforts to provide career development opportunities in astronomy for students in Hawaii.”
Atkinson is studying political science and Native Hawaiian studies at Columbia. During her free time, she enjoys being a cheerleader for her school, volunteering with the undergraduate admissions department, or peer-mentoring high school students through their college applications.
She originally is from the Oahu but has since relocated to South Carolina.
Funding for the internship position at Keck Observatory was made possible thanks to the generous support of Keck Observatory donor Thomas Blackburn.