‘A beautiful kind of giving’: Student Philanthropy Team supports Interlochen
Meet five of the Interlochen Arts Academy students working to make the Interlochen dream a reality for other young artists.
The 2026-27 Student Philanthropy Team. Back row, L-R: Noah Timmons, Colin Park, Nile Clipner, Lux Fulton, Tuolumne Bunter, and Cecilia Tooley. Middle row, L-R: Camrynn Lockwood, Reese Martin, Emilia Ramos, Vera Kate Bell, Lucy Downing-Phillips, Coco Yan, and Poonwalee Bunnag. Front: Ivy Park. Not pictured: Stella Taylor Pires, Ethan Savage, Simon Cole, Audrey Seaworth, Jayla Leland, Brooke McKinney, and Mason DeGarmo.
When you’re a high school student, it’s easy to assume philanthropy is something you’ll do someday—when you’re older, when you’re financially independent, when you’re established in your career.
A group of Interlochen Arts Academy students is challenging that assumption.
Founded in 2021, the Student Philanthropy Team (SPT) works alongside Interlochen’s Office of Philanthropy to make the Interlochen experience possible for other young artists—learning about arts-specific fundraising, earning community service hours, and sharing their stories with supporters around the world in the process. Whether energizing the annual Act for Art giving days or serving as storytellers for appeal letters, these passionate volunteers prove that giving back is more than just writing a check.
“We start the year by learning about the word philanthropy, which means ‘love of humanity,’” says Shevawn Dillingham, Assistant Director of Annual Giving and the staff leader of the SPT. “We talk with students about their own ‘philanthropic currency’—the many ways they can contribute that go far beyond a financial gift. They offer their time, talent, ties, and their testimony.”
Below, five young artists share what inspired them to join the SPT—and what they love most about being part of this special cohort of students.
Global perspective, personal connections
Emilia Ramos’ family tree is rooted in a love for learning: Her paternal grandparents were both educators, and her father attended Lester B. Pearson United World College in Victoria, Canada on a full scholarship.
“The beauty and power of learning is something I’ve believed in ever since I can remember,” she says.
Today, the junior musical theatre major is honoring her father’s journey—and her own—as one of the SPT’s event coordinators.
“Coming from Cali, Colombia, [my father] always tells me how the classes and people he connected with opened his world to a global perspective, just as Interlochen has for me,” she says. “When I heard about the Student Philanthropy Team, I leapt at the opportunity to help bring more students to this place that I love with all my heart.”
As an event coordinator, Ramos enjoys collaborating with her peers to organize campaigns that engage the Interlochen community both on campus and online.
“I love planning events with everyone,” she says. “Our brainstorming sessions are always so much fun, from goofy Giving Tuesday social media reels to coordinating Act for Art together.”
Of all the opportunities she has had as a member of the SPT, Ramos cites a luncheon with Interlochen’s Board of Trustees as the most memorable.
“I spoke with dozens of knowledgeable, kind folks,” she says. “I got to ask about their lives, their
incredible careers, and their passions for the arts. They asked us about our majors and our classes here at Interlochen. I giddily told them all about that semester’s Shakespeare-based acting technique class, along with the musical I’d written and produced earlier in the fall with the fabulous mentorship of the Interlochen theatre faculty.”
Helping artists find where they belong
Junior film major Noah Timmons is new to the SPT this year. He’s excited to join the SPT’s community outreach team—a role that will enable him to tell his story and share ways that others can open doors for artists who would thrive at Interlochen.
“If I could be a small part of the reason that more people are given this amazing opportunity, I'd simply be the happiest person ever,” he says.
Sharing the joy of the arts
When you’re pursuing a career in the arts, it’s easy to focus on your own journey. But for junior classical voice major Ivy Park, the joy of the arts is meant to be shared—not just with audiences, but with other budding creatives.
“I love singing and my art so much that I want to make it possible for everyone to take part in the arts,” Park says. “It is why I want to pursue a career in arts administration.”
In her second year as the SPT’s secretary, Park taps into her organizational talents to keep team meetings running harmoniously.
“I absolutely love taking notes; I actually reformatted the way I take notes over the summer to make them clearer for this year,” she says. “But my favorite part is supporting the team in any way—which usually means feeding them. I come to meetings stocked with all kinds of candy and chocolates; it’s a good morale booster for the group.”
One of Park’s most meaningful SPT projects took place last spring, when she took donors behind-the-scenes of the Academy’s March 2026 Imagine US tour.
“I got to record some footage for a thank-you video for the people that made our performances possible,” she says. “I wanted to find a way to express my gratitude to everyone that brought this tour to life.”
Participating in the SPT has also allowed Park to gain experience in a vital facet of her future career while ensuring that students’ voices are heard.
“Philanthropy is so directly intertwined with arts administration,” she says. “I believe that students should be represented in this work, as they are the ones impacted by philanthropic contributions. Through my time on SPT, I hope to connect with the people that support Interlochen and develop some of these arts administration skills.”
Finding community, making an impact
Even before she enrolled at Interlochen Arts Academy, senior acting major Vera Kate Bell knew the SPT was a special group of students.
“I was greatly inspired by the spirit I saw from students on the team while visiting campus,” she says. “I could tell that this community was one of eager, passionate students, and that sounded like the desired fit for me.”
Once she arrived at the Academy, Bell’s initial interest in joining the team was reinforced by the evidence of philanthropy all around her.
“After seeing the impacts of philanthropic efforts on Interlochen's campus, I was inspired to join the Student Philanthropy Team,” she says. “I wanted to play a direct role in how these impacts are made.”
Bell—who currently serves as the SPT’s vice president—has found her teammates every bit as dedicated and inspiring as her first impression suggested.
“My favorite part about being a member of the Student Philanthropy Team is what I get to learn from my peers,” she says. “Each time I gather with the team, I'm grateful to be surrounded by a multitude of leaders that encourage me. I love listening to diverse perspectives and ideas during collaborative efforts, eventually creating meaningful results. Those I've learned from on the team have not only encouraged me to be my best at the meeting table, but throughout my daily life as well.”
The support of the SPT—and the sense of connection to the Interlochen community it fosters—was instrumental in helping Bell develop a sense of belonging at the Academy. Bell fondly remembers a meeting with Interlochen’s Board of Trustees as a particularly significant moment.
“[The event] took place at the beginning of my first year at Interlochen—a time where I was a bit anxious about understanding my newfound environment,” she says. “However, this day gave me an opportunity to get to know my fellow team members and the larger donor crowd. It was inspiring to hear encouragement from esteemed donors as they expressed gratitude for our efforts as students and spoke about their own endeavors. This was one of the first times I truly felt like I was a part of something bigger at Interlochen—a place where I know I'm valued and appreciated.”
Making the dream reality
Four-year senior and singer-songwriter major Lucy Downing-Phillips knows first-hand how charitable giving can transform a student’s life.
“I attend Interlochen on a scholarship, which means philanthropy is personal to me,” she says. “Somewhere, someone I may never meet chose to give a young artist like me an opportunity. Because of that generosity, I’ve spent the last four years writing songs, performing on stages, finding my voice, and growing into the person I am today. I’ve gotten to build a life around the thing I love most, and I know that without the generosity of donors, my story would have looked completely different.”
“That’s what makes this year so meaningful to me: I get to help give someone else that same chance. Somewhere, there’s a young artist dreaming about a future they aren't sure is possible, doubting themselves just like so many of us once did. Because of this community, that dream doesn't have to stay a dream. It can become a reality.”
As the SPT president, Downing-Phillips enjoys organizing events such as Act for Art, planning social media campaigns, and collaborating with the other members of the team—whom she calls “some of my best friends in the world.” Her favorite part of volunteering with the SPT is ensuring that Interlochen remains accessible for future students.
“More than anything, I’m proud to protect the opportunity that changed my life, especially during such difficult and challenging times for the arts,” she says. “I hope that, through this team, I can help make sure another student gets to stand where I stand today, look back on their time at Interlochen, and realize just how much a stranger's kindness changed their life.”
The SPT’s broad definition of philanthropy also motivates Downing-Phillips to keep writing, performing, and connecting.
“I've realized that philanthropy is something we experience at Interlochen every day,” she says. “We get to share our art with others, bringing people joy, comfort, and connection through something we've created. We may not all grow up to be millionaires who can donate to every organization we believe in, but we can still give something meaningful to the world through our dedication to the arts. I think that's a beautiful kind of giving, too.”
Downing-Phillips encourages prospective donors to imagine the incredible works of art—and the artistic breakthroughs—their gifts can make possible.
“A gift to Interlochen isn't just a gift to a school,” she says. “It's a gift to the songs that haven't been written, the paintings that haven't been painted, the performances that haven't been performed, and the stories that haven't been told. It truly is an investment in young people who have yet to discover all they're capable of becoming.”
