UTC Innovations in Honors students Abbey Marak (left photo) and Hattie Martinek (white shirt in right photo) both participated in programs with the Chattanooga Autism Center this summer.
The Chattanooga Autism Center keeps a close connection with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, offering internship and volunteer opportunities for students from a variety of degree programs.
From the Department of Psychology to the Department of Political Science and Public Service, students are encouraged to get involved with the CAC, a local nonprofit serving the community in a multitude of ways.
From offering therapy and resources to help those with autism to hosting events designed to promote awareness and advocacy for those with disabilities, the CAC is devoted to making Chattanooga a supportive and safe environment for everyone—a feature that stood out to UTC students Abbey Marak and Hattie Martinek.
Growing up with family members with autism, Marak and Martinek found an interest in disability support early in life. For Marak, a senior Innovations in Honors student in the UTC Honors College majoring in psychology, her interest led her to pursue volunteer opportunities with CAC.
“I took a huge interest in autism as I have family members who are autistic, but in terms of the autism center itself, they’re amazing people,” Marak said. “I think the people who go there to get treatment, as well as the staff, are fantastic.”
After transferring to UTC from Georgia State University in 2024, Marak immediately started looking into opportunities for professional growth in Chattanooga. As a student aspiring to be a surgeon, volunteering with CAC was a chance to expand her horizons.
“For a lot of the people who are within the sciences, it’s something that’s a great route to go, especially if you’re looking into getting a master’s or going that type of route,” Marak said. “It’s a great job to be working while doing something like that.”
As a volunteer, Marak primarily worked on helping put together the center’s annual Chattanooga Autism Celebration Walk in April, which allowed her to explore the non-neurotypical aspect of neuroscience that fascinates her.
Martinek, a junior Innovations in Honors student majoring in political science, was determined to find an opportunity that would allow her to apply the concepts she had learned in class to the outside world. When she was encouraged to apply for the CAC internship, she was excited to find something that aligned with her passion for nonprofits and disability advocacy.
“I definitely love nonprofit work, disability advocacy and being able to serve the community,” said Martinek, who interned at CAC this summer, “so my internship really just solidified how much I love it. I think the nonprofit sector is just like the perfect kind of balance of direct aid and assistance and providing help and resources to those who need it the most.”
After graduating from Hendersonville (Tennessee) High School in 2023, Martinek went to the University of New Hampshire for a year before transferring to UTC to be closer to home.
During her time with CAC, she worked on a variety of projects, including budget, directory, grant work and events. Although her internship was unpaid, she is grateful for the experience she received.
“The CAC is just such a passionate, driven organization, and everybody really cares about the community they serve,” Martinek said. “It’s been really nice to get to know them over the past few months and see where everybody’s passion comes from.”
While Martinek has been interested in working with nonprofits for years, she knows from her time with CAC that the nonprofit sector is where she wants to stay.
This fall, Martinek is serving as a peer mentor for UTC’s Mosaic program, which serves individuals with autism at the University. Although she is not exactly sure what she wants to pursue after graduation, she plans to continue working with nonprofits and serving as an advocate for those with disabilities.
According to CAC Executive Director Dave Buck, the center typically accepts one intern per semester. Martinek took a unique route with her internship, allowing them to accept two this summer.
“Normally, the internship is for people from psychology or social work departments,” Buck said. “Most interns help families find autism resources and shadow different types of therapy, which helps them identify their interests.”
However, Martinek came to CAC with a skillset and drive that made her stand out as someone who could focus more on the nonprofit management side. At the same time, a student from Mississippi State University was able to take on the typical intern role.
Coordinating internships and volunteer opportunities, Buck screens applications looking for dependable, hard workers with good references to back them up.
“Finding people who are reliable is number one,” Buck explained, “and people that are more independent. If they need a really structured environment, this isn’t a good fit. There’s a lot of self-motivation and self-direction.”
He said students interested in learning more about the internship program should visit the CAC website.
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