Helena native selected for Smithsonian’s first rural internship class

Helena native Lyla Ackerman is headed to Washington, D.C., as one of only 10 students chosen for the Smithsonian Institution’s first rural internship class. The paid 10-week summer placement puts a Helena High graduate in a national institution that is using the pilot to widen access to museum, research and public-history careers for students from outside major metro areas.

The Smithsonian says its Rural Initiative is aimed at rural America and is meant to expand programming and resources where need is greatest. The institution has also said it already hosts more than 1,500 student interns across its museums, research centers, offices and the National Zoo, which makes the rural class a selective addition rather than a routine internship track. Andy Mink has led the initiative as founding director since 2023.

The Smithsonian’s rural push comes against a backdrop it says includes workforce development, capital access, infrastructure, health, land use, environment and community preservation challenges. The institution has said 82% of rural cultural organizations have annual budgets under $25,000, a figure that helps explain why it is trying to collaborate strategically with organizations around the country and reach communities that often have less institutional support than larger cities.

Ackerman’s path fits that mission closely. The University of Montana described her in 2024 as the Distinguished Young Woman of Montana and said she planned to pursue biology with hopes of teaching in schools or other educational settings. Helena Public Schools listed her among Helena High School’s distinguished students and National Honor Society inductees, and also named her an AP Scholar with Honor in 2023. Her biology major with a concentration in education suggests a career that could bridge science communication, teaching and public engagement.

For Helena and Lewis and Clark County, the selection is more than a personal milestone. It shows that a student from a smaller capital city can compete for a national cultural institution’s first rural cohort, and it raises a larger question about whether programs like this help rural communities build career pipelines or simply export top talent. First Interstate Bank, which is tied to the internship, says the goal is for ten rural students to gain real-world experience, build networks and bring what they learn back home.

Students in Helena who want similar opportunities can start by building a strong academic record, seeking leadership roles and looking for programs that connect school, service and a clear field of study. Ackerman’s record at Helena High and the University of Montana shows that national openings often go to students who combine achievement with a defined career direction, not just those who wait for an opportunity to appear.