Each summer, the Rockpile Museum Association proudly funds the museum’s Summer Internship Program—an investment in both the future of museum work and the preservation of Campbell County’s rich history. This program provides college students with hands-on experience in collections, education, research, and public engagement while giving the museum valuable support during its busiest season. Hosting interns is one of the largest commitments we make in our annual budget, and we believe it’s one of the most impactful.
Cat D’Arcangelis has just graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry (with additional studies completed in studio art and cultural heritage) from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She originally hails from Randolph, a rural-suburban town in northern New Jersey. She is so excited to be spending her summer as an intern at the Rockpile Museum, where she will be assisting the Education staff with programming and making the collections at the museum more accessible to the public. She is passionate about museum work and dedicated to preserving local histories. In her free time, she likes to cook, make fiber art, and go on walks.
Hello! My name is Sam Kuykendall and I have the privilege of serving as the Summer Collections Intern for 2025. When I was young, my grandfather would sit me on his knee and show me family heirlooms and artifacts in his study. It was one of my favorite experiences to hear him tell the story of people and events and imagine what it must have been like to be there. Since then, I have graduated with a degree in history from Samford University and am currently halfway through a master’s degree in museum studies at Baylor University. I hope to pursue a career in collections at a museum, which will allow me to not only get to preserve and enjoy history for myself, but to share that with others in a manner that strengthens the community around me. I am grateful to the RMA and to the staff at the Rockpile Museum for being so welcoming and supportive. The opportunity to serve the city of Gillette has been both instructive and a lot of fun. I hope that I can make a mark and most of all contribute to the history of the Powder River Basin in a positive and lasting way.
We invite you to join us for our Summer Intern Presentation and Pie Social on Monday, July 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the museum. Come hear what our interns have been working on—and enjoy a slice (or two) of pie! Bring your favorite pie to share, or just come ready to eat and connect with your community. If you’d like to help sustain and grow this important program, consider making a donation directly to our Intern Fund. Every contribution helps ensure that future historians, curators, and educators get their start right here in Campbell County.