Recognizing Our 2024 Fall Interns - CSPM
Photo of the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse, which houses the CSPM. Thie direction is looking on the south side of the building from a higher elevation during a sunrise.

Recognizing Our 2024 Fall Interns

The museum is fortunate to work with interns across our different departments. While interns learn new skills and explore their professional interests, the museum has support in advancing its mission and making progress on a variety of goals and initiatives. This fall Samirah Badillo, a student from UCCS, and Violet Coddington, a recent Palmer High School Graduate and former CSPM Junior Docent, interned for the Collections and Education departments.

Collections intern Samirah is standing in the collections processing area of the museum.
Collections Intern, Samirah, photographing Van Briggle pottery in the collections workspace

Samirah, Collections Intern

Samirah Badillo is a junior at UCCS where she is majoring in History. She previously earned her Associates in Art at Pikes Peak State College in 2023. This semester, Samirah interned at the CSPM to learn more about the museum field. While at the museum, she assisted with several projects to help document and preserve the museum’s collection. During her time at the museum, she cataloged objects ranging from milk bottles and fraternal ribbons to a painting of Lydia Vallejo. Samirah is frequently seen in the museum’s new Collections Workspace photographing objects. This has helped reduce our backlog of collections photography and enabled artifacts to be stored.

In addition to helping document the collections through cataloging and photography, Samirah and Brayan Montes De Oca, CSPM Museum Technician, are inventorying a collections space impacted by construction. Together, they also completed several smaller projects to help finalize the move of objects and supplies into the museum’s new Collections Workspace.

What have you enjoyed most about your internship?
"I think my favorite part is cataloging, I think using Past-Perfect has become something I had gotten good at, and it gives me a chance to do some more research/hands-on work."

What is your favorite local history topic?
"I find the most interesting about our local history was the history of our railroads and politics. I dealt a bit with exploring our history with the Midland Railroad, and I also found smaller things like ribbons or pins held during campaigns."

What is next for you?
"After I graduate, I really want to be able to work in a museum, I found working in the CSPM to be really interesting and solidified my love for history."

Violet, Education Intern

Violet first began volunteering with the museum as a Junior Docent in 2017. Over the past 6 summers, she has supported museum programs and events. She learned how to present interpretive “Hands on History” activity stations for visitors of all ages. At events like our annual Festival of Lights Family Fun Day, she helped hundreds of families make holiday crafts. With each new year in the program, Violet grew as a mentor to our younger participants and as an educator. When she expressed interest in an internship after graduating from high school, we were thrilled!

During her internship, Violet has supported our elementary school program. She sets up the activity stations, welcomes students, and either leads a station or supports our new volunteers in training. Violet also was critical to the development and implementation of our Night at the Museum fall program. She came up with crafts and activities to create a fun and educational program for over 500 guests. She has also supported our Little Learners preschool program, and developed a wonderful (and loud!) music program in September. 

CSPM Intern Violet speaking with attendees in the 50% of the Story exhibit.
CSPM Education Intern, Violet, working as a Gallery Attendant in the museum's "50% of the Story: Women Expressing Creativity" exhibit

What have you enjoyed most about your internship?
"My favorite part as an intern has been connecting with staff and the community. I love getting to know the families and other community members that make our events possible."

What is your favorite local history topic?
"The most interesting part of our local history is how connected every aspect of it is. You can’t tell any local story without mentioning some intertwined historical event or person."

What is next for you?
"After the conclusion of my internship, I will be attending Pikes Peak State College as a D11 Promise scholarship recipient. I hope to continue to contribute to my community through volunteering at other nonprofits in the Pikes Peak Region."

Thank you to Samirah and Violet!

CSPM volunteer leads museum guests in gallery

Interested in learning more?

The CSPM provides internship opportunities throughout the year. Learn more on our volunteer webpage.Â