By Cheyenne Stastyshyn
As the year 2025 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the five interns – Simone DeLuque, Barbara McCall, Shelby Reardon, Lior Wagerer, and Nemiah Wallace – who brought fresh energy, curiosity, and creativity to the Orange County Regional History Center this fall. Working on our public programs and in our Education and Collections departments, they helped us connect more people to Central Florida’s rich history while gaining hands‑on experience in the museum world. As their semester wraps up, we asked them to reflect on their work, what they learned, and the moments that surprised them most.
Public program interns (from left): Nemiah Wallace, Shelby Reardon, Lior Wagerer.
Shelby Reardon – Senior, Rollins College, Humanities
Q: What made you interested in pursuing an internship at the History Center?
A: I used to volunteer at the History Center all the time when I was in high school, and I loved the environment and people. I wanted to gain experience working in a museum and prepare for the kind of job that I could potentially have after college.
Q: What have you worked on during your internship, and how does this help the mission of the museum?
A: During my internship, I have worked on different activities for the museum’s History Alive programs. We had to come up with three different activities focusing on anything in the museum and for all age levels. This helps the History Center’s mission because it impacts the community around us and helps different people get involved with their local history.
Q: How has the internship helped you grow?
A: This internship has helped me see what working in a museum is like and how important community engagement is. Learning about your history is up to you, and being able to grab people’s attention and have them dive into an activity is really special.
Q: What has been the most fascinating or surprising part of your internship?
A: The most fascinating part of my internship was how welcoming and at home everyone made me feel. The History Center is made up of so many different people and departments, and everyone welcomes you with open arms and really strives to make you succeed.
Q: What would you say to future interns to help them be successful?
A: I would say to keep an open mind and really put in what you want to get out of this internship. You can take it in so many different directions and dive deep into what you find interesting about Central Florida history. Really just make it your own and have fun!
Q: What has been a favorite memory of your internship?
My favorite memory of my internship was getting to decorate the museum for Halloween and getting to decide where to put up certain decorations. Everyone was having so much fun with it and getting creative and sorting candy turned into a little game.
Lior Wagerer – Junior, University of Central Florida, Anthropology, with Minors in Nonprofit Management and Education
Q: What made you interested in pursuing an internship at the History Center?
A: I wanted to be an intern at the History Center because I am always interested in learning more about how museums operate, and I am truly grateful that I was able to evolve my passion for education and public programming.
Q: What have you worked on during your internship, and how does this help the mission of the museum?
A: Throughout my internship, I have come up with several programs and activities that are focused on Central Florida history and education.
Q: How has the internship helped you grow?
A: I have learned so much through this internship, from how to create effective programs and keep the attention of kindergarteners to how museums work from the inside.
Q: What has been the most fascinating or surprising part of your internship?
A: There is so much more consideration and careful thought that goes into coming up with public programs than I thought, and I have loved learning about the best methods for engaging kids.
Q: What would you say to future interns to help them be successful?
A: I would advise them to bring a sweatshirt because the museum is freezing! I would also tell them to rely on the fabulous staff for help, and to have fun!
Q: What has been a favorite memory of your internship?
A: My favorite memory from working at the History Center was decorating the museum for Halloween. It was so much fun getting to interact with all the other volunteers, and to get the museum into the fall spirit.
Nemiah Wallace – Junior, University of Central Florida, Communications
The Green Book, redesigned by Nemiah Wallace for the Orange County Regional History Center.
Q: What made you interested in pursuing an internship at the History Center?
A: I wanted a chance to give back to the community I grew up in and to understand the behind the scenes of a museum. The History Center felt like the perfect place to do both.
Q: What have you worked on during your internship, and how does this help the mission of the museum?
A: Most of my work has revolved around digital editing. I’ve created flyers, infographics, and activity sheets for guests, especially for the Black history programs. So, if you ever come across the History Center’s edition of The Green Book for kids, or “The Green Map,” I had a hand in bringing those to life.
Q: How has the internship helped you grow?
A: This experience deepened my love for my community and strengthened my passion for helping it grow. I learned to trust my creative instincts and to follow through on ideas from a spark all the way to the final product.
Q: What has been the most fascinating or surprising part of your internship?
A: Honestly, seeing how seamlessly everyone works together has been the most fascinating part. Every small effort adds up – creating an impactful, educational experience for every person who walks through the door.
Q: What would you say to future interns to help them be successful?
A: Think outside the box, keep an open mind, and truly enjoy the process. This internship was such a meaningful experience for me, and I believe it can be the same for anyone who steps into it with curiosity.
Q: What has been a favorite memory of your internship?
My favorite memory was practicing how to lead a tour for the first time. I completely fumbled my words out of nerves, but we were all nervous together. It made the moment feel light and reminded me that learning can be fun, even when it’s a little messy.
Barbara McCall – Graduate Student, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Master of Arts in History
Q: What made you interested in pursuing an internship at the History Center?
A: After retiring from a career with the federal government, I began online graduate studies and volunteered to work in the archives at the Orange County Regional History Center. This experience led to my interest in pursuing an internship.
With most of my classes completed, the fall semester presented an opportunity to conduct an internship under the supervision of Katie Marra, the History Center’s archivist. In addition to my general studies at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, I am a candidate for a certificate in public history, which directly relates to the knowledge and skills I learned this semester.
Q: What have you worked on during your internship, and how does this help the mission of the museum?
A: During this program, I was exposed to a variety of responsibilities under the purview of the archives team, including doing research, organizing collections, completing requests for assistance, and processing accessions from public and private donors.
One assignment originated from the Orlando Fire Department, which will be celebrating its 140th anniversary with an exhibition. I was tasked with identifying the department’s artifacts stored within the collections of the History Center. During the selection process, the relevance of an item was weighed along with an assessment of its physical condition. Items were analyzed for rare or unique qualities. These efforts helped the museum fulfill its commitment to the Fire Department.
Q: How has the internship helped you grow?
A: Combined with learning new skills, I valued learning from Ms. Marra about the general mission of the History Center as witnessed from different perspectives. A tour of the Exhibits Department, located on the first floor of the building, included an onsite workshop where most of the museum’s displays are built. A visit to the offsite storage location featured a vast quantity of items and highlighted the scale of the History Center’s resources and significance of the collections team.
Q: What has been the most fascinating or surprising part of your internship?
A: The History Center maintains a core exhibit titled Cattle and Citrus, which includes a replica of an orange grove and features a display of brightly colored citrus labels representing various brands from the industry.
These artifacts, a total of 871 labels, were donated by the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation, which carries on the philanthropies of the citrus pioneer Dr. Philip Phillips. I was instructed on the methodology used to display the labels and participated in the rotation. Perhaps due to the unique characteristics of these labels, I found this exhibit to be very interesting and visually appealing.
Q: What has been a favorite memory of your internship?
A: I would say the Orlando Fire Department project was my favorite assignment. Tasked with identifying the Fire Department’s artifacts, I encountered logbooks dating from 1885 that contained details of fire alarm responses, membership rosters, expense journals, and meeting minutes.
Correspondence discussed operational matters such as the purchase of firemen’s uniforms, budget requests, and new ordinances. A rare find was a manual from the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company with a receipt dated March 19, 1915, that documented the purchase of Fire Engine No. 367.
Simone DeLuque – Graduate Student, University of Central Florida, Master of Arts in History, Public History Track
Simone DeLuque, collections intern, pictured with Melvin “Mel” Jenner, a veteran of World War II.
Q: What made you interested in pursuing an internship at the History Center?
A: I am in my third semester of graduate studies at the University of Central Florida, where I am part of the Public History Track in the History Master of Arts Program.
Since I was an undergrad, I have wanted to pursue a career in archival work. I have experience in library archival work, but I wanted to gain knowledge on the museum level. At the History Center, I was able to intern with the museum’s archivist, Katie Marra, who is part of the Collections Department.
I also am a fourth-generation Floridian, so being able to work with materials significant to Florida was extremely special to me.
Q: What have you worked on during your internship, and how does this help the mission of the museum?
A: As an archival intern, I was able to aid in the processing of collections from the beginning to the end, and to collaborate with other interns on a range of projects. I also got a behind-the-scenes look at the curatorial and exhibition process, along with a host of unique and educational experiences. My work helped make sure that the History Center’s collections are accessible and beneficial to any potential researcher.
Q: How has the internship helped you grow?
A: This internship helped me grow in ways I could not have imagined. Along with honing my archival skills and learning an immense amount of knowledge about museum work in general, I was able to build upon my self-confidence in the work I produce and learn to trust my judgement.
Q: What has been the most fascinating or surprising part of your internship?
A: The most fascinating part was learning just how much goes on behind the scenes to ensure museums flow efficiently and effectively. Not only was I able to witness all that is involved within the Collections Department, but thanks to departmental visits I was able to witness everything that is required of other parts of the museum, such as the Education and Exhibitions departments. I know I will now go into museums with a deeper appreciation for the work that is being done.
Q: What would you say to future interns to help them be successful?
A: To future interns, I would say be open to new experiences and soak up every single day you have the opportunity to be in the Orange County Regional History Center. You will realize that, with an open mind and open ears, there are constant opportunities for growth and learning. This has been truly such a unique experience that I am immensely grateful for.
Q: What has been a favorite memory of your internship?
A: It is hard to choose, but one of my favorite memories is completing my very first collection, the Jill Clay Collection (1955-2000) from start to finish. Knowing that I was able to complete every step of the project successfully made me very proud of myself. It reflected the skills that I was absorbing from my internship and reassured me of my abilities. I will never forget the joy I felt when I was able to officially put this collection on the archive shelves and cheer with my supervisor.
As the semester comes to an end, we are faced with the hardest part of hosting an internship – the part where we must all say, “Until next time”! Our interns bring fresh ideas, thoughtful questions, and new energy to every department they touch. Whether researching collections, designing activities, or helping visitors connect with local history, each one leaves a lasting mark on the History Center. We’re grateful for their time and talent, and we look forward to welcoming a new group in the year ahead.