Alumni Update: Alex Allmond Joins Ronald McDonald House Charities

January 31, 2018

Alex Allmond (child and family development ’18) has already completed her honors thesis, and all that stands between her and graduation is completing a required internship. Her final semester, however, had much more in store for her, as she received a scholarship from the Trinity Hospital of Augusta Auxiliary Committee and an internship from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta (RMHC), which began this January.

The competitive scholarships are open to all students studying a field related to healthcare. “I applied last summer and was accepted after submitting my transcripts and information on my Child Life practicum. They awarded me $3,000 which I can use in any way I want to further my education,” she said.

Ronald McDonald Houses aim to directly improve children’s health while providing a comfortable place where the family can stay. This charity believes that families must be together rather than separated during hard times.

During Allmond’s internship, she will create a welcoming environment through specialized activities. She will also work on organizing fundraisers for the charity.

“Mainly, I will be working underneath the Volunteer Coordinator to offer support to the families of children who are receiving treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia through providing opportunities for normalization and family centered care. I will also assist in planning and implementing several charity and fundraising events during the course of my internship to maintain the ability of RMHC of Augusta to offer their services for families at little to no cost,” she said.

Allmond will be able to implement her undergraduate studies in a professional setting. For four years, Allmond studied child and family development, and now she will be interacting with families first hand that are dealing with straining situations.

“Having a child who is hospitalized is a challenge for any family, and I am thrilled that I will get to work alongside an organization that has such a strong reputation as a beacon of hope for this population,” she said.

The unique atmosphere of the Ronald McDonald House Charities will provide Allmond with real-life experiences that she can use in her future endeavors. She plans on returning to school next fall to pursue a graduate degree.

“After I complete my internship, I plan to attend graduate school the following fall semester and pursue my M.Ed/Ed.S in School Psychology,” she said.