Delgado served as co-director of the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology and recently accepted a 3-month internship at National Geographic in Washington D.C., where he will be researching, fact-checking and editing articles on environmental news, science, and sustainability.
“It’s the perfect opportunity for me to use the skills I’ve learned as a geography major here at HSU,” Delgado says.
The National Geographic’s prestigious internship program offers real-world experience in mapping, magazine writing, photography, education and research. Delgado was selected out of scores of applicants to intern for National Geographic Global Media, composed of its magazine, book publishing, television, film, music, radio, digital media and maps units.
Delgado credits Geography Department chair Steve Cunha and faculty members Mary Beth Cunha and Matthew Derrick for helping refine his application. “They educated me about the application process and mentored me along the way,” he says.
The southern California native attended Cypress College in Orange County before transferring to Humboldt State.
“I’ve always loved the environment and knew I wanted to go to a school that would allow me to be outdoors,” Delgado explains. It wasn’t until he saw a photo of HSU students conducting field research in the Redwood forest that he fell in love.
For his final project, Delgado mapped the transformation of local marshlands from indigenous Wiyot times to the present. His poster took first place at the 75th Association of Pacific Coast Geographers meeting in Olympia, Wash.
After his three-month stint in Washington, D.C., Delgado will return to the west coast, where he plans to pursue a graduate degree in geography at San Diego State University. He will continue his research on indigenous cultures and also join a team of students mapping access to fresh produce in minority communities across the U.S.
Delgado says the geography education he gained at HSU and his work with CCAT have opened a lot of doors. “It’s given me the skills and experience I need to be succesful,” he says.
Earlier this year, Delgado and three other students were named 2012-13 Outstanding Students by HSU President Rollin Richmond. For the full article, click here.