Meet Milordjie!
This summer, Barancik Foundation has opened its doors to welcome a talented local student for a hands-on internship to gain professional experience, learn about the community, and help shape a path for future interns to follow.
Milordjie C., a recent Booker High School graduate who will head to Duquesne University this fall, started her internship on June 1 and will continue with us through mid-July. During her time here, Milordjie is learning about and contributing to the Foundation’s work as well as visiting community organizations, meeting professionals and leaders in a variety of roles, and exploring areas connected to her academic focus and professional aspirations.
Knowledge, confidence, and mentorship
“Milordjie will be pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, so we want to show her firsthand the different forms that nursing takes here in our community,” said John Annis, interim President and CEO of Barancik Foundation. “We’re fortunate to have so many great partners in the caring professions that have offered to share their knowledge and show Milordjie nursing in action.”
Barancik Foundation’s new summer internship is being designed to offer talented students a meaningful introduction to the people, institutions, and issues that shape the Sarasota community. It does so within the context and expectations of a professional office, providing diverse opportunities to assist in the daily work of a mission-driven organization.
“I hope to see the various paths that nursing offers, and gain knowledge, confidence, and mentorship that will help me become the kind of nurse who makes a lasting difference for patients and families,” Milordjie said.
Education beyond the classroom
We were introduced to Milordjie by Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties, where she was actively involved in leadership and mentoring. She participated in the Youth Workforce Development and Students Taking Active Roles (STAR) Leadership Training programs there, and also attended Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Keystone Conference. Milordjie earned the Drs. Robert and Patricia Gussin Endowed Scholarship for her undergraduate studies through Boys & Girls Clubs, and she is a William G. and Marie Selby Foundation 2026 Selby Scholar and a Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County scholarship student.
Another way Milordjie is assisting the Foundation (and the community): Her experience this summer and her direct input will help us enhance this internship opportunity for future participants.
“Chuck and Margie Barancik believed in the lasting value of education, not just as something learned in a classroom but as something that broadens young people’s understanding of the world and their potential role in it,” said Annis. “We hope this learning-focused internship helps Milordjie and the students who follow her see, imagine, and begin to prepare for their future, whether that’s here in our community or beyond.”
