Scarlet Service Stories: Amanda Osborne
Amanda Osborne, Trust for the National Mall
Amanda Osborne can’t imagine her life without dance. The daughter and granddaughter of educators says she wants to change people’s lives in the classroom by teaching dance to those who aren’t as lucky as she was growing up.
“The teachers around me have altered my life,” said Osborne, who wants to work with students whose families may not be able to afford paying for private dance lessons. “My dad, aunt and grandparents all work or worked in schools. It has been instilled in me that teaching and educating students is a responsibility that can help prepare the world for informed individuals ready to make positive changes and impact their community.”
This summer the 21-year-old Bridgewater resident spent most of her time in Washington, D.C., as a Scarlet Service intern with the Trust for the National Mall, the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan philanthropic partner of the National Park Service dedicated to restoring, preserving and enriching the National Mall.
Most of her time was split between the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, Lockkeeper’s House, the oldest house on the national mall, and the United States Park Police Horse Stables and Wells Fargo Education Center. She welcomed visitors, helped write volunteer newsletters and assisted in events. She also helped with interviewing, training and onboarding new volunteers.
“As a dance major I often don’t get the opportunity to participate in non-art-focused academic and professional Rutgers programs,” said Osborne, who will graduate from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers-New Brunswick in 2024 with a BFA in Dance and a BA in English and continue a five-year bachelor’s/master’s degree teacher certification program with the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. “It’s been great to see what goes on behind the scenes, be involved with the volunteers who deal with the public every day and learn what it takes to run a nonprofit organization.”
This is Osborne’s second Scarlet Service internship. Last year, she worked at the Raritan Valley YMCA, planning and teaching Silver Sneakers fitness classes to adults and creating health and wellness and dance education for pre-K students. She also assists teachers at Mason Gross School of the Arts Rutgers Community Arts Dance and Parkinson’s and Neurodivergent Movement class.
“Both of these experiences have made me realize even more that I want to combine my love for dance and my interest in doing something good for the community,” said Osborne.