CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Hopewell Culture National Historical Park and its nonprofit support group have been named Ohio University Chillicothe’s Outstanding Community Partner for 2026, recognized for a six-year-old internship program that places a paid OHIO Chillicothe student at the park every summer.
The park and the Friends of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park received the award Nov. 5 at Ohio University’s Community Engagement Awards, held at the Ridges Auditorium in Athens to open the Engage OHIO 2026 symposium, according to the university. Each of the university’s regional campuses selects one Outstanding Community Partner a year.
Since 2022, the Bruce Lombardo Internship has placed an OHIO Chillicothe student at the park each summer in a paid role, mentored by park staff and an Ohio University faculty advisor, the university said. The position is funded through a National Park Service cooperative agreement and a gift fund at the Ohio University Foundation.
The park’s earthworks are part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Ohio’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and university officials said the partnership connects OHIO Chillicothe students and the broader community with one of North America’s most significant Indigenous cultural landscapes.
The Friends group also brings public programming to the OHIO Chillicothe campus, including author talks that have drawn more than 70 attendees, according to the university.
Nominator Michael Lafreniere described the collaboration as reciprocal, saying students gain career-shaping experience, the park gains capacity to serve the public, and the community gains a stronger champion for a heritage site of international importance, the university said.
The information contained in this story was obtained from Ohio University.
