Northmarq recognizes 10 rising CRE leaders with scholarships

Throughout his internship, Kernell Slack made it a priority to look beyond his day-to-day responsibilities, seeking opportunities to learn from colleagues across the company and gain exposure to different areas of the business.

"Everyone at Northmarq has something you can learn from, and being curious and willing to step outside of your comfort zone will help you grow and learn so much," said Slack, a Dallas-based Northmarq Agency intern.

That curiosity and commitment to learning helped Slack stand out among Northmarq's summer 2026 intern class, earning him one of 10 scholarships awarded to interns returning to school this fall.

The scholarship recipients were selected based on their academic achievement, leadership, initiative and commitment to making the most of their internship experience. Throughout the summer, interns gained hands-on exposure to commercial real estate by contributing to active transactions, conducting market research, analyzing properties and learning alongside experienced professionals across the organization.

Investing in and developing the next generation of CRE professionals

For Gabriela Montano, a Dallas-based Northmarq Agency intern, the experience provided a behind-the-scenes look at how deals come together.

"The most valuable part of my internship was fully immersing myself in commercial real estate and seeing firsthand how transactions, underwriting and collaboration come together behind the scenes," Montano said. "Receiving this scholarship makes the opportunity even more meaningful, and I am grateful for Northmarq's investment in my education and future."

Ava Cole, a Commercial Investment Sales intern in Chicago, gained hands-on experience analyzing leases and evaluating property performance.

"One project I am especially proud of was completing multi-tenant lease abstracts for shopping centers," Cole said. "This gave me hands-on experience analyzing leases and deepened my understanding of the details that shape a property's value and performance."

For Connor Buck, a Multifamily Investment Sales intern in Charlotte, visiting properties in person transformed the way he understood commercial real estate.

"Seeing the properties in person completely changed the way I understood them," Buck said. "Two assets that look almost identical in a spreadsheet can tell very different stories once you factor in finishes, amenities, competing developments and neighborhood momentum. That was the moment underwriting stopped being abstract for me."

"The scholarship program recognizes our interns' accomplishments while supporting the academic and professional journeys still ahead of them," said Kim Breck, director of Talent & Development. "We are proud to invest in such a talented group of emerging professionals and look forward to seeing the impact they make in the years ahead."

If you’re looking for an internship opportunity this summer, visit the Northmarq Careers page to learn more about opportunities available.