Experiential Learning Scholarship applications are now open, giving UM students the opportunity to receive financial support for internships, research, practicums and other hands-on experiences that can shape what comes next.
For Kali Capagli, experiential learning wasn’t just an opportunity to build her resume. It was a chance to turn her own experiences into support for other students—and to confirm the kind of social worker she wanted to become. But she needed a little boost to get there!
As a first-generation college student, mother of three and nontraditional student, Kali understood firsthand how difficult it can be to balance college with everything happening outside the classroom.
So when she began her practicum as a Student Success Intern with the TRIO program at Flathead Valley Community College, the work immediately felt personal.
I wanted to use my experiences to help others feel supported and capable of achieving their goals,” Kali said.
Through her internship, Kali worked directly with first-generation and low-income college students facing many of the same barriers she had encountered herself. She provided one-on-one support, helped students navigate academic challenges, connected them with scholarships and other resources, and facilitated workshops.
At the same time, she was putting what she had learned in her social work courses into practice.
Kali developed skills in motivational interviewing, advocacy, active listening, relationship building and strengths-based engagement. But some of the most important lessons came from simply working alongside students and seeing what happened when they received the right support at the right time.
Whether it was helping a student apply for a scholarship, navigate a difficult semester, or simply feel more connected to campus, those moments reinforced why I chose social work,” she said.
Making Experiential Learning Possible
Gaining hands-on experience can be transformative, but internships, practicums, research and other experiential learning opportunities can also create additional financial challenges for students.
For Kali, support from the Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund helped make her practicum experience possible while she balanced coursework, parenting, practicum hours and everyday responsibilities.
That support allowed her to invest in an experience that would ultimately influence what came next.
Through her work with TRIO, Kali didn’t just learn more about social work—she began to see herself more clearly as a social worker.
She learned how powerful it can be to meet people where they are, help them recognize their strengths and connect them with resources that can move them forward.
The experience also strengthened her professional confidence and confirmed her commitment to a career focused on helping people overcome barriers.
Turning Experience Into a Career Direction
After completing her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Montana and graduating with honors, Kali was accepted into UM’s Advanced Standing Master of Social Work program.
She is now continuing her education while exploring future opportunities in clinical social work and mental health services.
Her practicum helped give those goals direction.
Without question, my experiential learning experience helped me get here,” Kali said. “It gave me practical experience, strengthened my professional identity, and helped me see the impact I can have as a social worker.
And while the experience shaped Kali’s future career, its impact extended beyond the workplace.
By returning to college, completing her degree and pursuing graduate school while raising three daughters, Kali was also showing her children what perseverance can look like.
Being able to show them that it is never too late to pursue your goals has been one of the most meaningful parts of my educational journey,” she said.
Your Career Path Might Start Outside the Classroom
Kali encourages other students not to overlook opportunities to learn through experience—even if they aren’t completely sure where those opportunities will lead.
Some of the most important lessons happen outside of the classroom,” she said. “Experiential learning allows students to gain hands-on experience, build confidence, develop professional skills, and discover how their education can create meaningful change in the lives of others.
An internship, research project, practicum, volunteer experience or other hands-on opportunity can do more than add a line to your resume. It can help you discover what motivates you, strengthen skills employers value and give you a clearer picture of where you want to go next.
And financial barriers don’t have to automatically put those experiences out of reach.
The Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund helps University of Montana students pursue meaningful experiential learning opportunities and gain the real-world experience that can shape what comes after college.
Interested in turning your own experience into your next career step? Learn more about the Experiential Learning Scholarship Fund and explore how experiential learning can help you put your education into action.
**Accepting applications now through September 23, 2026.
Additional application cycles for the 2026/27 academic year will occur on December 9, 2026, and March 3, 2027.
