(Posted June 24, 2013)

Ally Lush, a junior from Spring Mills, Pa., is working at an internship in the Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Bureau of Advocacy.
Ally Lush, a junior from Spring Mills, Pa., is working at an internship in the Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Bureau of Advocacy.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Ally Lush, a junior at Juniata College from Spring Mills, Pa., studying international studies, received a Finnegan Fellowship from the James A. Finnegan Foundation that funds Lush's current 10-week paid internship in the Bureau of Advocacy in the Pennsylvania Department of Aging in Harrisburg, Pa.

Lush, the daughter of Binky Lush, also of Spring Mills, received the internship on the strength of an essay, letters of recommendation, college transcripts and extra curricular activities. Lush is a 2009 graduate of Penns Valley High School.

Lush has been able to amass a wealth of academic and international experiences while at Juniata. She has completed two semesters studying abroad. She spent spring 2012 studying in The Gambia, a country in northwestern Africa, and spent spring 2013 in Quito, Ecuador, studying at the Universidad San Francisco. In addition, she was chosen as a student assistant to accompany students on short winter-break study abroad trips to The Gambia in 2012 and 2013.

She also has previously worked at internships in 2010 at Pennsylvania Certified Organic in Spring Mills, and in 2012 for the Global Focus Program at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

She competed in soccer in 2011 and is a member of the Student Food initiative club and Power Up Gambia. She also is treasurer of the Juniata Disc Golf Association, and is a member of the Juniata College Honor Society.

"As I continue my academic career, I believe this knowledge will be very helpful and will give me ideas and the background needed for the process of identification of the needs of a certain demographic or population and helping implement the policy to address those needs."

Ally Lush, Spring Mills, Pa.

"I believe I will gain insight during this internship into the way that governments care for specific populations, in this case, the elderly," Lush says. "As I continue my academic career, I believe this knowledge will be very helpful and will give me ideas and the background needed for the process of identification of the needs of a certain demographic or population and helping implement the policy to address those needs."

The James A. Finnegan Foundation was established in 1960 to honor the memory of James A. Finnegan, Secretary of Pennsylvania from 1955 to 1958. Finnegan fellowships have been awarded since 1960. Finnegan served under Pennsylvania Gov. George M. Leader. Prior to his service as Secretary, Finnegan was president of the Philadelphia City Council from 1951 to 1955.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.