After a one-year pause, the NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) is back. A cohort of students will join NCI Frederick again this summer. Returning with an emphasis on scientific positions, the program has stirred considerable enthusiasm—and memories of past successes.

NCI Frederick recently bid farewell to its 33rd class of Werner H. Kirsten student interns. Having completed their senior year of high school—and a rigorous year-long internship—the students are off to confront their next big challenge. The campus recognized them all in the program’s first in-person closing ceremony since 2019.

This year’s Scientific Library student Jeopardy! game again embraced a virtual format, like the 2021 and 2022 games, to accommodate interns competing from remote locations. The competition was an enjoyable match, involving 23 participants, including the seven contestants interning at NCI at Frederick from various high schools or colleges, and a fast final round with a high-totaling winner.

Building 549’s atrium was abnormally crowded one late summer day. Like the cicadas buzzing just outside the building, the room thrummed with excitement, dozens of conversations going at once. The noise was so loud that it was hard to hear someone speaking even a few paces away. Student Poster Day had returned to the NCI Frederick campus, making its first appearance since the apprehensive days of early 2020.

Former Werner H. Kirsten (WHK) Student Intern Program participant Lea Jih-Vieira followed a narrow path of interest and discovered a plethora of possibilities.