Showcase Spotlight
About Me
Name: Aleesha Khan
School: Patterson Mill High School
Grade: Senior
Interests: I’m currently planning to major in biology because I’m passionate about healthcare. However, I’m also interested in the role technology will play in the future of medicine, so I’m considering a minor in computer science. I'm passionate about using technology for the greater good!
I am deeply involved in my school community, serving as an officer of Voices of Equity for three years and participating in the Student Government Association since my freshman year. I am also an officer of our Medical Club, which aligns perfectly with my goal of pursuing a career in healthcare. I enjoy challenging myself through rigorous classes, taking on leadership roles such as Vice President of the National Honor Society, and finding ways to help others whenever possible.
Why I Joined The Guild
I learned about the Transformation Guild through my sister, Yumnah Khan, after she won the William J. Sacco Award for Patterson Mill.
I joined the Guild because its mission inspired me and aligned with my values of community-driven change and storytelling for impact. I was drawn to how the Guild uses writing and technology to support nonprofits and advance charitable initiatives. Their impactful work makes a real difference in communities, and being part of that is something I wanted to contribute to.
I aimed to build my confidence in public speaking through interviews and testimonials, improve my writing skills, and understand how the behind-the-scenes work drives real-world change.
Skills I Gained
This summer, I developed a variety of skills, technical, interpersonal, and creative skills, including:
- Improving public speaking, research, and writing through interviewing
- Creating landing pages
- Conducting in-depth research
- Doing outreach
- Problem-solving technical challenges
- Recognizing the importance of follow-ups when planning an interview or conducting outreach
My projects
This project aimed to raise awareness of Harford Helps and improve its accessibility for high school students seeking service opportunities. I participated in this initiative with my fellow intern Matt Liechty, where we worked to showcase local organizations and volunteer opportunities. We developed a spotlight campaign featuring brief interviews with local nonprofits to promote their missions and motivate student involvement.
My Role:
- Wrote outreach emails and planned interviews
- Created interview questions and conducted interviews with local organizations
- Designed landing pages to promote the spotlight campaign
Team Member: Matt Liechty
As part of the Baseball 4 Causes initiative, I collaborated with fellow interns Yumnah Khan and Aleeza Khan to cover the 3rd annual local baseball game called the Harford Experience. We gathered testimonials from two players, wrote a game recap, and created a landing page to highlight the event and its connection to the cause.
My Role:
- Helped gather and record testimonials from players
- Contributed to writing the game recap
- Assisted in designing and building the landing page
Team Members: Yumnah Khan and Aleeza Khan
As part of the 2nd Annual Tee Up 4 Impact golf outing, interns were assigned to research specific sponsors of the event and create spotlight landing pages to showcase their support. I created a landing page for Frederick Ward Associates, highlighting their mission, community involvement, and role in supporting the event.
My Role:
- Researched Frederick Ward Associates, including their mission, projects, and community work
- Wrote and designed a sponsor landing page to align with the tone and goals of the Tee Up 4 Impact initiative
- Ensured the spotlight effectively showcased the sponsor’s impact and connection to the cause
Alongside fellow interns Yumnah Khan, Aleeza Khan, and Joseph Kutcher, I helped cover the Old Line Wiffleball Club event. Yumnah, Aleeza, and I attended to get a feel for the event and gather information from Joseph. We created a landing page that featured event results, photos, and a research summary about the Old Line Wiffleball Club.
My Role:
- Attended the event
- Collaborated on creating and designing the landing page
- Conducted research on the Old Line Wiffleball Club to write an informative summary
- Helped curate and organize event photos and results for the page
Team Members: Yumnah Khan, Aleeza Khan, Joseph Kutcher
Baseball Legacy Society
The Baseball Legacy Society recently unified its focus around a quarterly Legacy Newsletter aimed at fostering community engagement through stories, support, and celebration. I worked with Joseph Kutcher, researched members, and developed interview questions to create spotlight videos. These videos highlight members’ experiences and contributions, supporting the Society’s mission to preserve legacies and maintain compassionate community connections.
My Role:
- Conduct in-depth research on members and the Society’s new mission
- Develop thoughtful interview questions tailored to each member
Team Members: Joseph Kutcher
Together with my fellow interns, we developed a variety of social media content to showcase our experiences and promote the Guild’s mission. Our projects included "Day in the Life" as an intern, "outfit-of-the-day" posts, intern spotlights, and an "Office Tour".
My Role:
- Collaborated with interns to plan and organize content ideas
- Helped coordinate filming and posting schedules
- Participated in content creation, including on-camera features
Thank You
This summer, I had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people who made this internship truly unforgettable. A special thank you to my mentor, Jarret Cassaniti, for being so kind and always willing to help. I’m also grateful to Sue Kutcher and Shelly Yurechko for their guidance and support.
This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to bring my skills into a new environment through my internship. I gained valuable skills and learned so much, which will benefit me for years to come. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been able to work on real projects, learn from talented professionals, and contribute to meaningful initiatives. This was a great experience. Thank you!