By Romina Gomez Silva, American Red Cross Akaloa Intern

The Akaloa Internship Program at the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties provides a unique opportunity for passionate individuals to make a meaningful impact while gaining valuable professional experience. This year’s interns come from diverse backgrounds and fields of study, yet they share a common commitment to service and community. Through projects that support military families, advance disaster preparedness, and strengthen donor relationships, they have contributed significantly to the Red Cross mission of alleviating human suffering. Each intern’s journey reflects dedication, growth and a desire to create positive change. Below, we celebrate their stories and the projects that have defined their experience.

Samuel Newcomb

Samuel Newcomb, a former military servicemember born and raised in Virginia, is currently studying business and marketing at California State University San Marcos. His passion for supporting veterans and the armed forces inspired him to pursue an internship with the Red Cross as a Service to Armed Forces intern. Drawing on his healthcare experience and interest in marketing, Samuel has played a key role in spreading awareness and engaging communities through creative initiatives like the Hug-A-Hero Doll Program and organizing care package projects for service members overseas. His work has included support for major initiatives such as Holidays for Heroes and Operation Holiday Cheer, where he helped collect holiday cards and more than 1,200 gift bags for deployed soldiers and veterans here at home. Through these experiences, Samuel has developed valuable skills in communication, professional email etiquette, virtual collaboration, and adaptability. He takes pride in contributing to the Red Cross mission with enthusiasm and dedication, living by the motto “work hard, play hard.” Looking ahead, Samuel plans to continue supporting humanitarian efforts through volunteering and donations, ensuring his commitment to service remains strong beyond his internship.     

Erika Velazquez-Borboa

Erika Velazquez-Borboa, currently pursuing her master’s degree in Homeland Security at San Diego State University–Imperial Valley, joined the Red Cross internship program to deepen her understanding of emergency management. Drawn by the concept of preparedness, Erika wanted hands-on experience in helping communities prepare for disasters before they occur. Her role has focused on outreach and safety initiatives, including tabling events to inform the public and leading smoke alarm installations through the Home Fire Campaign—a project she is most passionate about. Erika’s day-to-day responsibilities range from preparing presentations for disaster preparedness, coordinating logistics for installations, and ensuring equipment readiness, to engaging directly with residents in the field. One of her favorite experiences was delivering a presentation alongside the fire department called Prepare with Pedro to 240 kids, showcasing how collaboration between agencies enhances public safety and the importance of fire safety. Through this internship, Erika has strengthened her communication skills, gained confidence in public speaking, and learned the importance of proactive disaster response. Looking ahead, she plans to continue volunteering and assisting in fire emergencies, driven by her belief that “It’s important to help out because you never know when you are going to be in their shoes.”

Megan Payne

Megan Payne, an economics and mathematics major at UC San Diego, joined the Red Cross as a Development Intern after transferring from community college and working at Disney World. Her experience in a profit-driven environment sparked her interest in nonprofit work and mission-focused initiatives. During her internship, Megan has contributed to donor engagement and fundraising efforts, supporting major projects like the San Diego Real Heroes event, which required extensive collaboration and behind-the-scenes preparation. Her day-to-day tasks include organizing donor-related activities, managing Salesforce data, preparing tax receipts, and coordinating holiday cards for donors. Through these responsibilities, Megan has gained valuable skills in Excel, Salesforce, professional communication, and teamwork—skills that bridge her academic studies with real-world applications. One of her favorite memories was delivering Halloween drop-off bags to volunteers across San Diego, a gesture that strengthened community connections. Looking ahead, Megan hopes to continue supporting humanitarian efforts, inspired by her realization of the critical role donations and blood services play in sustaining the Red Cross mission.           

Denisse Pimentel

Denisse Pimentel began her journey with the Red Cross after more than a decade as a stay-at-home mom caring for a child with special needs. Seeking a meaningful way to give back, she started volunteering and soon transitioned into her role as a Preparedness Lead Intern. With a background in business management, Denisse has embraced opportunities to gain professional experience while making a difference in her community. Her work centers on educating families about disaster preparedness through presentations like Be Red Cross Ready, Prepare with Pedro, as well as coordinating smoke alarm installations and tabling events to recruit volunteers. She played an active role in Sound the Alarm events, which focus on preventing home fire deaths and injuries by installing free smoke alarms and providing home fire education for residents in communties across Southern California. Through these experiences, Denisse has developed confidence in public speaking, strengthened her networking skills, and discovered the power of spreading the message that “if you don’t have money to donate, donate time.” One of her proudest moments was delivering an engaging preparedness presentation at a school alongside firefighters—a challenge that left her feeling accomplished and inspired. Looking ahead, Denisse plans to continue volunteering and supporting her community, driven by her belief that everyone can be the help someone needs.      

Sirirack “Siri” Sukhaseum

Sirirack “Siri” Sukhaseum, a third-year International Business student at UC San Diego, brings a unique perspective to her role as a Service to Armed Forces Intern at the Red Cross. With family roots in Laos—her parents are refugees—Siri has always valued resilience and community. Inspired by her older brother, who introduced her to the organization, Siri joined the internship program eager to gain hands-on experience in humanitarian work and project management. Her long-term goal is to work in public service or international affairs, potentially as a diplomat, and this internship has given her valuable exposure to diverse teams and real-world challenges. In just two months, Siri has already made a significant impact. She served as a lead coordinator for Operation Holiday Cheer, a major initiative that brought together over 70 youth volunteers to assemble and ship care packages for service members abroad. Siri managed logistics, collaborated with leadership and ensured packages were delivered through customs, a project that exceeded expectations and highlighted her leadership and organizational skills. She also planned a holiday caroling event to spread cheer to military families. Through these experiences, Siri has strengthened her communication, project management and teamwork abilities, learning how to navigate professional environments and work effectively with people of all ages and backgrounds. She credits the Red Cross for helping her find her voice and build confidence in leadership roles. Looking ahead, Siri hopes to continue supporting humanitarian efforts globally, driven by her passion for creating positive change and connecting communities across borders.

Romina Gomez Silva

I am a fourth-year Communication and Marketing student at the University of San Diego, and I am passionate about using creativity to tell stories and connect with people. My goal is to pursue a career in public relations where I can create meaningful experiences and have the opportunity to travel. I was inspired to apply for an internship with the Red Cross because many members of my family work in the medical field, either treating patients or managing healthcare operations. Growing up in that environment showed me the power of helping others and the fulfillment that comes from humanitarian work. While I once imagined a future in fashion and wellness, I realized that I wanted to do something that contributes to the greater good, and this internship felt like the perfect way to start. Through my studies in communication and marketing, I have developed skills in writing, public speaking and effective communication, all of which I use in this role. I am excited to continue learning and growing while contributing to projects that have real meaning. Every article I write and every piece of content I help create supports the Red Cross mission and connects people to the incredible work being done. This experience has taught me not only professional skills but also values like selflessness and philanthropy, which I will carry into my future career. Whatever path I take, I want to ensure that at its core, my work makes a positive impact and contributes to something bigger than myself.