A SPARK That Lights Her Future Path

Julia Treviño ’28 hangs up balloons and sets up folding tables, lining them with markers and crayons, preparing for the rush of loud, bright voices. In the next few minutes, children will flood into the small church room to participate in the activities she has planned for them.

This summer, Treviño is working as an intern for Nuevos Vecinos, an organization that provides support and opportunities for immigrants in San Antonio. Treviño sought help from Trinity for guidance on this internship opportunity and, in the process, discovered the MAS Alvarez Internship Grant. This program provides Trinity students with the opportunity to complete internships at nonprofit organizations that serve the Latino community. 

“Nuevos Vecinos stood out to me because of its mission to support immigrant and refugee families in a direct and human-centered way, which aligns closely with my values,” Treviño says. “Being part of creating opportunities for engagement and connection has reinforced my belief that serving others is one of the most meaningful ways to contribute to a community.”

This strong belief in community is leading her to pursue a career in pediatrics. Through her internship opportunities, Treviño has seen the real-world effects of her work and gained meaningful experience working with children and families that she can apply to her future medical practice.

Treviño, a junior majoring in neuroscience, has pursued community-focused service work since the summer of 2025. She was a part of the first group of students to participate in Trinity’s SPARK internship program. SPARK—short for Support, Partnership, Advocacy, Resilience, and Knowledge— a 10-week paid summer internship program that connects students with nonprofit organizations serving the San Antonio community. 

At SPARK, Treviño served as an intern at Iglesia Cristiana Roca de Refugio, a small church in San Antonio that serves recently arrived immigrant families, many of whom live significantly below the poverty line. This experience had a lasting impact on Treviño and showed her the importance of supporting families through community-based work. 

“I felt that my work was not finished after SPARK, and I wanted to continue building those connections and contributing in a more sustained way,” says Treviño. “When I learned about the MAS Alvarez Internship Grant Program this summer, I saw it as an opportunity to continue this nonprofit work and deepen my commitment to serving the community.”

Treviño credits her Trinity coursework with helping her develop strong communication skills, critical thinking, and organizational skills that she applies every day in her role as a Nuevos Vecinos intern. She plans children’s events for the community, assists in grant writing, and has been building relationships with other nonprofit organizations to help create partnerships that support upcoming events and expand resources for the community. 

“I have learned that caring for children involves more than addressing medical needs. It requires listening, building trust, and understanding the environment and support systems that shape their lives,” Treviño says. “This experience has helped me imagine the kind of physician I hope to become, someone who combines medical knowledge with compassion, patience, and a genuine commitment to helping children and families thrive.”

Throughout Treviño’s internship experiences, she’s found a trusted mentor in Chaplain Jessica Kemp. Kemp provided guidance as Treviño piloted meaningful projects, including developing children’s programming, reaching out to community partners, and contributing to grant writing. 

“(Chaplain Kemp’s) mentorship has helped me grow in confidence and has made these experiences much more meaningful,” Treviño says. 

Backed by her Trinity mentor and supported by real-world experiences, Treviño is ready to pursue pediatrics to help children medically and to understand the environments and challenges that shape them and their well-being.