Introducing Our Summer 2026 Interns
Sarah Stein and Lily Smith join us as interns summer as they gain hands-on experience in public relations, marketing, and strategic communications. Both are eagerly contributing to meaningful client work, exploring the inner workings of a PR agency, and building the skills they'll carry into future careers. We're thrilled to have them on the team and can't wait to see where their talents take them.
Read on to learn more about Lily and Sarah!
Lily Smith
Lily graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 2023 and is currently a rising senior at San Diego State University, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Public Relations. Through her coursework, she has developed a strong foundation in media relations, strategic communication, and campaign planning. She is excited to apply the knowledge she has gained in the classroom to real-world experiences while continuing to grow as a PR professional.
Lily also works as a Sales Associate at Brandy Melville on Church Street in downtown Burlington. Prior to retail, she spent three summers working as a camp counselor at the same sleep-away summer camp she attended for six years as a camper. That experience helped her develop adaptability and problem-solving skills while mentoring and supporting children.
Outside of work, Lily enjoys spending time at the beach, practicing yoga, taking Pilates classes at Hot Yoga Burlington, shopping, and trying new sushi restaurants. At San Diego State University, she has been actively involved in campus organizations, including the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and Alpha Chi Omega. When she is home in Vermont, she enjoys making the most of the winter season by skiing with family and friends.
Q&A with Lily
What are you most excited about for this internship?
I’m most excited about gaining real-world experience in the field of public relations. It has been incredibly rewarding to apply the concepts and strategies I've learned in the classroom to real clients and meaningful projects. Seeing my ideas come to life while contributing to actual campaigns has strengthened my passion for the industry and confirmed that this is the career path I want to pursue.
Why did you want to intern at Cultivate?
I wanted to intern at Cultivate because of the people. I still remember my first interview with Alex and immediately feeling comfortable, welcomed, and excited about the opportunity. From day one, the entire team has been incredibly supportive, patient, and encouraging as I've navigated my first role in the public relations field. Their willingness to mentor me, answer my questions, and trust me with meaningful work has made this experience incredibly rewarding.
What do you hope to learn about PR?
I hope to learn more about what it takes to run and maintain a successful public relations firm. Ever since I discovered my passion for public relations, it has been a dream of mine to either own my own PR agency or lead communications for a major company. Through this internship, I’m excited to gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of the industry, learn from experienced professionals, and see firsthand what it takes to build strong client relationships and execute successful campaigns.
What would you say to someone who is considering doing an internship?
I’d say, go for it! No matter what the internship looks like, every experience has something valuable to teach you. Internships are one of the best ways to break into the field you're interested in and gain confidence in your abilities. Before joining Cultivate, I had no real-world public relations experience, but this internship has already taught me so much. Even just observing how the team collaborates, communicates with clients, and develops campaigns has given me a much better understanding of the industry.
Sarah Stein
Sarah Stein is a rising senior at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, VT. She is excited to work with Cultivate this summer and learn more about Public Relations by getting real, tangible experience. In the future Sarah hopes to attend a university and study communications and public relations with a minor in business. She hopes to use what she has learned this summer from Cultivate to prepare herself for a deeper learning of public relations.
Sarah also works part time at Cookie Love in Ferrisburg. Prior to this, Sarah worked as a salesperson at SCHIP thrift store in Shelburne. Sarah also has been a dancer all her life, performing in the Vermont's Own Nutcracker at the Flynn each year with Vermont Ballet Theater. She also enjoys volunteering at the Humane Society of Chittenden County and the Salvation Army. She loves giving back to the community and seeing new places in Vermont.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys baking, swimming, and traveling with her friends and family to explore somewhere new. A perfect summer day for Sarah would definitely include making breakfast, visiting a swimming hole in VT, and watching movies with her older sister and dog.
Q&A with Sarah
What are you most excited about for this internship?
I am most excited about learning about public relations through a talented community such as Cultivate. At CVU, we don’t get the chance to be as hands-on with specific topics we are interested in, and this internship will allow me to understand more about public relations and see what it would look like as a future career.
Why did you want to intern at Cultivate?
I wanted to intern at Cultivate because of the strong Vermont roots, the organization of the company, and the Roots and Blossoms Fund. After my first interview with Alex, I could see how important organization is to her and making this company thrive. We also talked a lot about the Roots and Blossoms Fund and the difference it’s making in Vermont communities.
What do you hope to learn about PR?
Starting this internship, I hoped to learn more about whether public relations was something I would be interested in pursuing in my future. Now, I hope to learn more about how I see public relations appearing in my day to day life that I never realized before.
What would you say to someone who is considering doing an internship?
I would say just go for it! If you never apply, you never get the opportunity to be in the room you want to be in. Send the email, go in for the interview. This internship at Cultivate has already been such an amazing experience for me, and it started with me sending an email.