Meet Our Interns

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CASA Interns

Madelyn Macoy
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Madelyn Macoy is going into her third year at the University of Georgia. She is majoring in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in Social Work and hopes to attend law school after graduation. Madelyn is excited to learn more about the legal aspect of child welfare and be able to make a difference in her community.​

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Sydney Strickland
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Sydney Strickland is a third year student at the University of Georgia majoring in Psychology and Marketing with a minor in Law, Ethics, and Philosophy. She is excited and honored to serve as a social media intern with hopes to learn more about marketing and raising awareness for local nonprofit organizations. In her free time, Sydney likes to cook, listen to podcasts, and cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs.​

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Ellie Riddell
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My name is Ellie Riddell! I am a third-year student at the University of Georgia majoring in Marketing with a certificate in Consumer Economics. In my free time, I like to read, spend time with family and friends, and go on walks. I am so excited to be working with CASA as a social media intern and can not wait to make a difference in our community!​

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Jessica Jewell
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My name is Jessica Jewell and I am a fourth year student at the University of Georgia. In spring of 2023, I will graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. After undergrad, I plan to enter the MSW/JD program at UGA with the ultimate goal of reforming our system and policies to aid victims/survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I am very excited to intern with the CASA program over this next year and I hope to learn more about the child welfare system in Georgia.​

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Khushi Patel
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My name is Khushi Patel and I am a Junior at the University of Georgia majoring in Finance and Management Information Systems. In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, and cheering on the dawgs! After graduation, I hope to work in public or social consulting and eventually attend grad school. I had a great experience interning with Children First and am looking forward to working with the CASA program to make a difference in our community!​

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Holly Lydiatt
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My name is Holly Lydiatt and I am a senior at the University of Georgia! I am double majoring in International Affairs and Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice and Sociology. My dream is to become a civil rights attorney that can defend a large variety of people. I have chosen this route because I believe that it is unconstitutional for an individual to be frowned upon because of their race, religion, ethnicity, and/or gender. I believe that by participating in this internship I will gain helpful experience for my career in law. I cannot wait to learn more about child welfare, the juvenile court, and the inner workings of a non-governmental organization!​

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Erin Hobbs
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Erin Hobbs is a fourth year at the University of Georgia majoring in Social Work with a minor in Religion. After graduation, she plans to continue her education in hopes of receiving her Master of Social Work. Erin has a passionate heart for child welfare and is excited for the opportunity to work with CASA to make a difference in her community. In her free time, Erin likes to hike, spend time with friends, and do hot pilates and yoga!​

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Children First Interns

Janie Jackson
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Janie is a fourth year Bachelor in Social Work student, with a minor in communications and is part of the Nonprofit Leadership and Management certificate program. She is really excited to learn more about how non profits work and the families and children in the Athens community.

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Sarah Mondock
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Sarah is a senior at the University of Georgia with an intended graduation date of May 2023. She is majoring in Human Development and Family Science with a Human Services minor, Fashion Merchandising minor, and emphasis in Child Life. After graduation she hopes to attend grad school for child life or social work. She has always had a passion for helping others and is excited to learn through this experience.​

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Molly Mari
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Molly is a fourth year student at the University of Georgia, majoring in International Affairs and Criminal Justice, while also pursuing her Masters in International Policy through the Double-Dawg program. Post-graduation, Molly hopes to move to Washington D.C to pursue a career there. She’s always had a passion for helping others, so she is excited to give back to a city that has given her so much! ​

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Natalie Anderson
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Natalie is from Marietta, GA, and she is getting her masters at UGA in Nonprofit Management and Leadership with a certificate in Disability Studies.​ she decided to intern with Children First because she wants to give back to the community and contribute the skills she's learned in her nonprofit studies. 

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Lexie Blake
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Lexie is a senior at the University of Georgia studying Public Relations and Political Science, with a certificate in Applied Politics. She is working for Children First as a social media and marketing intern in order to communicate the needs and accomplishments of CF to the public. After graduation, Lexie plans to get her Masters in Public Administration at UGA. She is excited to learn from this experience and apply it to her future studies in public administration, and give back to the Athens community.

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Abby Nand
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Abby is from Milton, GA. She is a 3rd year Political Science major and Law minor. She is active in UGA Wesley, her sorority Alpha Chi Omega, and Athens Church Waumbaland. Abby enjoy traveling, cooking and planning events!

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SafeCare Interns

Bailey Knoche
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Bailey is a fourth year Social Work student at UGA and graduating with her BSW in May. She is pursuing her MSW after graduation. She's excited to learn about child welfare!

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Paige Poole
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Paige is a fourth year Social Work major at the University of Georgia currently interning with Children’s First under SafeCare. She is from Vidalia, GA and enjoys exercising and helping others. After graduation, she hopes to continue her education in an MSW program to work with families and children.

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Shelby Pluger
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Shelby Pluger is currently an MSW student at The University of Georgia! She received her undergraduate degree in Human Services from Kennesaw State University. Upon graduation, she hopes to work closely with foster youth. Her previous internships involved work with both the foster youth population, as well as victims of sex trafficking. In her free time, Shelby works at Marshalls and spends time with her pup, Bentley. She moved to Athens with her boyfriend almost a year and half ago, and given the reality of moving during a pandemic, she is still learning her way around Athens! Shelby is so happy to be at Children First for this school year and cannot wait for all the experiences that are to come!

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Sparc Interns

Ana Laura Solis-Sanchez
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Ana is currently an undergraduate at UGA, and enrolled in the BSW program. She is a second year with a major in Social Work and a minor in Global Health. Throughout her time at UGA, she has worked with The Cottage, and has participated in as many activities and events as she can, such as Pride for two years in a row! This new experience with Children First and SPARC has given her and will give her multiple opportunities and experiences that will help her further reach my goal of helping the Athens community through social work and activism.​

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Mary Harrison
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Mary is from Louisville, GA, and she's a third year at UGA with a major in Psychology and minors in Spanish and Law, Jurisprudence, and State!​

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