Reflections from the Summer 2026 CIEE Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship

The prestigious Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship program offers eligible U.S. college students a unique opportunity to combine professional growth with global learning. Through this fully-funded program, Fellows spend the summer in Copenhagen, Denmark, gaining hands-on experience with organizations committed to sustainable business practices while exploring one of the world's leading models for environmental innovation. Alongside their internships, participants engage in academic coursework, professional development opportunities, and cultural immersion experiences that broaden their global perspective and prepare them to tackle complex sustainability challenges. 

This year, seven outstanding fellows took part in the program, each bringing their own academic interests, career aspirations, and passion for sustainability. Throughout their time in Denmark, they gained valuable professional experience, built international connections, and developed new perspectives on environmental stewardship. In the reflections below, our 2026 Fellows share highlights from their internship experiences and the lasting impact the program had on their personal and professional growth.

Reflections from the Summer 2026 Scan Design Fellows 

The impact of the Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship is best told by the students themselves. Read on to hear about their experience interning this summer in Copenhagen!

Alexis Kelley 

Louisiana State University 

"This internship certainly deepened my understanding of sustainability in a Danish context by allowing me to see the practicality of how sustainability can be applied. I think a lot of times in the United States, or even just in my past experience, sustainability can be talked about in a very idyllic fashion of this aspirational world of what we want to happen. But when I'm here, I see it ingrained in something that is totally a part of the culture, and in that, every industry and action is working toward sustainability."

Zenji Van Zutphen 

University of California-Berkeley 

"This internship deepened my understanding of environmental sustainability [in] the Danish context by exposing me to what Denmark and what the Danish are doing for the environment. Some examples would be really having exposure to what can be possible, whether it's better infrastructure for biking, for public transit, or even things that are being pioneered or that are more innovative, like digital product passports for circular construction."

Eva Odderson 

University of Washington 

"Denmark, if you look at it, it's kind of a capital of sustainability that we see from the outside. But inside they really take it as 'there's so much more to go,' and I think that's really inspiring and really shows how much we have to work on in the States to really get that mindset. But I think that also, culturally, more people are educated about sustainability, and more people ultimately care about it. It's something that they I think they've taken up as a society to, to drive that they want to care about sustainability. And I think that's inspirational, and I think that we should do the same." 

Lara Figur Valente Borges 

The University of Texas at Austin 

"Seeing the sense of community that can be built in a workspace was really nice and just like getting my ideas listened to ... I think that that's different from the internship experience in the U.S. in a lot of places where you're kind of considered, like the bottom of the ladder and you're kind of working with whatever anyone wants you to do. And, so, it was nice to be in such a collaborative space and see what outcomes are possible when everyone is working together and is kind of treated fairly in that way." 

Misbahou Jalloh 

North Carolina A&T State University 

"So, I think the [two] most exciting things [have been] ... looking at the architecture and kind of the infrastructure that's been set up is definitely oriented towards the people and what's best in terms of sustainability, but also what's convenient for the people and kind of having that balance. I think the second thing has kind of been the lack of hierarchy within the workplace ... within just the day to day, there's no kind of superiority complex that people may have walking around." 

Olivia Gaik 

University of Colorado-Boulder 

"This internship developed my understanding of environmental sustainability, especially in a Danish context. Because it's pretty easy to see structural differences between the U.S. and Denmark, especially when it comes to sustainable lifestyles within the workplace. I would say that economics and sustainability are more integrated, and they can be seen as successes when they're intertwined. Whereas in the United States, it's more so you have to sacrifice sustainability to power businesses and become successful. So, it's been eye opening to see how an economic model like this can work, but also on a smaller scale, seeing all the interventions you can take to reduce energy waste, um, water waste, etc."

Srija Tamidela 

Villanova University 

"I learned a lot of soft skills, if that makes sense ... but I feel like what I really gained is how I can be adaptable to different companies. I think that the Danes do environmental sustainability completely different from the rest of the world. I think it's ingrained, like part of their everyday culture. Like in the way restaurants are laid out, there's zero waste." 

From gaining hands-on workplace experience to building global networks and learning from Denmark's innovative sustainability practices, each Fellow returned to the U.S. with new skills, perspectives, and inspiration for their future careers. The Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship continues to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders through immersive, fully-funded opportunities that connect learning with real-world impact. 

Looking ahead, students interested in sustainability, intercultural learning, and global career development are encouraged to keep an eye out for the summer 2027 application cycle and consider taking the next step in their own sustainability journey through this exceptional fellowship! 

Learn more about the SCAN Design Internship