August 27, 2026
By NHHI interns Myla Generette and Lara Medina
National Intern Day 2026 kicked off with excitement at Yale’s MacMillan Center in Henry R. Luce Hall, where the space was transformed into a welcoming celebration of New Haven Promise interns. Customized National Intern Day T-shirts, a professional headshot station hosted by New Haven Promise, and upbeat music helped create an energetic atmosphere.
A catered lunch from Zoi’s featured a variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads, chips, and beverages, while Crumb Catchers provided a special delivery of brownies and cookies. At the check-in table, interns received customized Intern Bingo cards—with the event agenda printed on the back—designed to spark conversations and encourage networking from the moment they arrived.
As interns representing Yale departments and organizations throughout New Haven checked in, they quickly began connecting through the interactive Intern Bingo activity. This set the tone for a day centered on community, collaboration, and networking.
The event officially opened with welcoming remarks from NHHI interns Myla Generette and Lara Medina, followed by NHHI Director Chris Brown, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager Fallon Thomas, and New Haven Promise President Patricia Melton.
This year’s theme, Growth Happens Here, encouraged interns to embrace opportunities for personal and professional growth by building meaningful relationships throughout their internship experiences. Reinforcing this message was the event’s T-shirt slogan: One Community. Endless Connections. Limitless Growth. The slogan captured the spirit of the day and reflected the event’s purpose—celebrating the accomplishments of New Haven Promise interns while creating connections that extend beyond a single summer.
Following the opening remarks, attendees enjoyed lunch and continued networking before participating in a fast-paced team memory challenge that encouraged collaboration and friendly competition.
The next phase of the program featured an engaging panel discussion that quickly became one of the afternoon’s highlights. Panelists Anthony Legette, Giselle Garcia, and Fontaine Chambers offered thoughtful reflections on their career journeys and the experiences that shaped their professional growth.
Each panelist brought a unique perspective, sharing lessons from their own internships, the value of mentorship, and the importance of building meaningful professional relationships. They discussed navigating workplace expectations and the “unspoken rules” of professional environments, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and prioritizing mental health while pursuing career goals.
Their diverse personalities created an engaging and entertaining conversation that resonated with the audience. Their honest advice and meaningful insights also encouraged interns to approach their careers with confidence and curiosity.
The discussion concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session. Interns asked about career development, overcoming challenges, networking, and making the most of their internship experiences. The session allowed them to connect with the panelists on a more personal level and receive advice tailored to their professional aspirations.
Following the panel, attendees gathered for a group photo before transitioning into a final networking activity. Interns formed teams to play a round of Imposter, bringing plenty of laughter and friendly competition. The fun continued with a special appearance by Yale’s mascot, Handsome Dan, who stopped by to take photos with the interns.
The event concluded with remarks highlighting networking opportunities available through New Haven Works, the New Haven Hiring Initiative, and Yale’s Office of Employee Engagement and Workplace Culture. Lara and Myla expressed their gratitude to the panelists, partners, volunteers, and interns whose participation made the event a success.
To close out the day, interns received their National Intern Day T-shirts and giveaways from New Haven Promise, Yale’s employee resource groups, and the New Haven Hiring Initiative. They left the celebration with new connections, valuable insights, and lasting memories.
