USCBe Informed: News & Happenings

For USCB senior Sonia Davila Torres, a required internship has become something much more: a defining experience that connects her academic journey in public health with her personal mission to serve others.

Davila Torres, a Public Health Honors student, is completing her internship with the United Way of the Lowcountry and using her experiences there as the foundation for her Honors Capstone project.

A graduate of Bluffton High School, she lived in Nebraska before her family settled in the Lowcountry. Some of her childhood experiences shaped her vision for her future.

“I wanted to help others,” she said. “When I was young, we went to public health clinics—we didn’t have a private doctor. I wanted to help people who have dealt with the same issues.”

That motivation has guided her through her studies and into her internship, where she works 12–13 hours a week both remotely and in person at United Way’s Beaufort office and the organization's Beaufort firehouse location. Along the way, she has stepped outside her comfort zone.

“Through this major, you have to open yourself up to talk with people,” she said. “I’ve gotten less shy. At my internship, they push networking so much. I was nervous, but you just have to put yourself out there.”

Her work spans projects supporting many of the nonprofit's public health efforts. She assists with contact lists and newsletters for the Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG), which supports communities recovering from disasters such as Hurricane Helene. She also helps develop outreach materials, including writing scripts for informational videos. In Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties, disaster recovery includes the complex, often long-term challenges that follow any big storm: housing repair, access to helpful resources, and coordination across multiple agencies.

One of her video scripts captures the mission of the Long-Term Recovery Group: continuing support long after headlines fade, ensuring that families rebuilding their homes and lives are not left behind. Another highlights the impact of Showers of Dignity, a mobile hygiene unit that provides showers, laundry, and connections to essential services for individuals facing hardship.

Through it all, she has gained hands-on experience in community outreach, communication and nonprofit operations.

Davila Torres said a key skill she developed at her internship is using Charity Tracker, a case management system that helps coordinate services for individuals in need.  Through the United Way of the Lowcountry, she also also recently completed Psychological First Aid,  earning a certification from the American Red Cross that prepares her to support people in crisis.

Her bilingual abilities have also proven valuable.

“I speak Spanish, and I see how important that is,” she said, recalling a moment when a United Way staff member was able to comfort a frightened client by communicating in Spanish. “It really makes a difference.”

One of the most impactful experiences of her internship came during a Public Policy Day at the South Carolina State House. Alongside United Way staff, including President and CEO Dale Douthat, she witnessed the legislative process firsthand as lawmakers voted on funding for the SC 211 hotline—a free, 24/7 resource connecting residents to critical services such as housing, food, healthcare, and crisis support.

“I was there for the actual vote,” she said. “United Way took up the first three rows—and the bill passed.”

Experiences like that have solidified her interest in nonprofit work and community outreach.

“I like nonprofits,” she said. “I want to go into community outreach.”

Leaders at United Way say Davila Torres has made a meaningful impact, stepping in with flexibility, empathy and a strong willingness to learn.

As the first USCB interns embedded in the Long-Term Recovery Group, Davila Torres has helped expand the organization’s capacity while gaining invaluable real-world experience.

 "Engaging our future leaders in various aspects of public health and human services issues creates a foundation for a stronger community down the road," said Dale Douthat, President & CEO of the United Way of the Lowcountry.

She hopes to continue receiving interns from USCB.

“In everything I’ve done at my internship, I’ve never had a bad experience,” Davila Torres said. “It’s all been positive.”