Summer Internship Program: Culpeper County - Position 2

Primary Program Area Focus: ANR

1. Describe your plans for this internship.  (i.e. What specifically will the intern be doing?)

The intern will work directly with the Culpeper County Horticulture Agent on a variety of applied horticulture and community-focused tasks.  This includes participating in plant disease diagnostic site visits to commercial growers and homeowners, where the intern will help assess plant problems and assist with client communication.  The intern will also support monthly Master Gardener public education classes by helping prepare materials, assisting with demonstrations, and engaging in hands-on sessions such as floral design.  Additionally, the intern will contribute to fruit and vegetable production at the Extension office, including planting, maintenance, harvesting, and learning postharveest handling.

2. Please describe the knowledge/skills you expect the intern to gain?

The intern will develop practical horticultural skills, including plant health assessment, basic disease and pest diagnostics, and hands-on experience with fruit and vegetable prodution.  They will also gain experience in postharvest handling and value-added programming.  Through involvement in Master Gardener classes and client site visits, the intern will strengthen communication, public speaking, and customer service skills.  They will also learn how to share research-based information with the public in clear, accessible ways.  Overall, the internship builds both technical knowledge and professional confidence in applied horticulture and Extension outreach.

3. How will the intern learn about the breadth of VCE and our various program areas?

The intern will engage with multipe VCE program areas- Horticulture, Master Gardeners, Family and Consumer Sciences, and 4-H--gaining first-hand understanding of how each conributes to the Extension mission.  Working alongside agents, volunteers, and community members will help them see the wise range of audiences Extension serves and the variety of educational approaches used.  Through daily involvement in diagnostic visits, public programs, and community outreach, the intern will observe how VCE integrates horticulture, education, and service to address local needs, giving them a clear picture of the organization's overall scope.

The Lorene "Allie" Wright Clevinger Endowment for Virginia Cooperative Extension

Lorene "Allie" Wright Clevinger was born Lorene Wright on September 11, 1926, in Appalachia, VA, the third child in a family with an older brother, sister, and younger brother.  Preferring to be called by her nickname, "Allie", she attended Appalachia High School where she was active in various school activities including being captain of the girls' basketball team.  Upon graduating from high school, Miss Wright attended Milligan College and later transferred to the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) Pharmacy School where her older brother was enrolled in Dental School.  At MCV, she met Lawrence Earle Clevinger who she married after his graduation in 1947.  The couple lived in several communities in Virginia where Mr. Clevinger was a pharmacist.  In 1957, the Clevingers moved to Pulaski where Mr. Clevinger worked as a pharmacist at Tyler Drug Store and years later became the owner of Tyler's new store.

As a non-traditional student, Mrs. Clevinger attended Radford College, now Radford University, and later Virginia Tech to complete her undergraduate education.  While at Virginia Tech, she was inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.  Years later, her daughter was inducted into the same honor society as a university professor in Texas.  Mrs. Clevinger graduated from Virginia Tech on June 19, 1967 wiht a B.S. in Horticulture, with a Landscape Design emphasis.  She attended the ceremonies in cap and gown with her husband and daughter in attendance.  As a Landscape Architect, she designed the landscape for homes and buisnesses in the area, incluidng the Pulaski Library.  Later, she taught various science courses in the secondary school system in Hillsville, VA.  Through the years, Mrs. Clevinger taught Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church, was active in the local Garden Club, and loved to play the piano, especially hymns.  An avid supporter of school functions, she often attended various university activities and sporting events with her family.

Mrs. Clevinger loved Virginia Tech and her professoin of Horticulture and Landscape Design.  She was always appreciative of how the university worked with her commuting needs as a student, a wife, and a mother.  Mrs. Clevinger passed away in 2001.  She is remembered in her community for her love and dedication to her family and her passion and skill to her work.  Her husband and daughter honor her life and achievements through an endowment at her alma mater.

The Lorene "Allie" Wright Clevinger Endowment for Virginia Cooperative Extension was established by her daughter, Donna Lynn Clevinger, Ph.D. and her husband, Lawrence Earle Clevinger.  The endowment established an internship program supporting experiential learning opportunities for Virginia Tech students who are interested in gaining professional experience in horticulture and landscape design.