As graduations start and seniors place a stop to their excessive faculty years, an initiative among the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support and the Philadelphia School District helped a pair of college students cap off their senior yr with greater than just a diploma.
Representatives from DLA Troop Support and the Philadelphia School District amassed at some stage a luncheon on June five to celebrate the closing week of a pilot internship application for students to benefit from federal work enjoy earlier than graduating from high faculty.
“The DLA Troop Support, excessive college internship program, offers local excessive school college students a paid working experience in a professional discipline they’re interested in, even as also supplying a glimpse of what it’s want to work for the Department of Defense,” Army Brig. Gen. Mark Simerly, DLA Troop Support Commander, stated. “We designed the program, so interns gain precious on-the-process education from our crew and may have a foundation to put their fine foot forward after they graduate from excessive school.”
The pilot internship application created positions for students interested in the communications or science profession fields. Ning Cao and Vinh Pham, each senior from Northeast High School, became the primary interns of this system.
“I applied for the internship because it was my final 12 months in excessive faculty, and I did now not have any painting experience,” Cao said. “I wanted to benefit from treasured paintings revel in and earn a little bit of cash toward college before I finish high college.”
A call for programs went out in the fall of 2018, and after the interview and selection system, the interns started in the past due December 2018 and finished this system at the quiet of their senior yr. Their schedules were coordinated with the school district, so it did not affect their grade performances and allowed them to work as soon as every week.
While at DLA Troop Support, Cao and Pham obtained element-time worker benefits, education from professional field experts, and records about DLA employment possibilities.
Cao received revel inside the Corporate Communications office, and Pham labored with scientists within the Product Test Center. Cao stated the internship allowed him to enjoy a professional painting environment, responsibilities, and mentorship.
“Being an intern here has helped me develop a character,” Cao said. “Meeting people not around my age institution will help me get alongside human beings extra easily, similarly to know how to act professionally at positive times. I can confidently say that the time I spent here has helped me in many ways, and I may be using the information discovered in my future internships or jobs.”
DLA Troop Support has other internship applications, but Simerly said targeting new possibilities for those inside the network was crucial. “Our partnership with the Philadelphia School District is a key detail for us as participants of the Northeast Philadelphia network,” Simerly stated. “We desired to find approaches to offer precise possibilities for excessive college students to gain treasured work revel in and expertise of what we do in their neighborhood.”
The Philadelphia School District Superintendent, Dr. William Hite, also praised the partnership with DLA Troop Support and its benefits for preparing college students for lifestyles after high school. “This interesting initiative allowed our excessive faculty students to gain revel in a professional administrative center setting at the same time as interning at DLA,” Hite said. “Students had the opportunity to paint on competencies, so one can assist in putting together them for fulfillment after excessive faculty, consisting of learning how to manage deadlines and communicate with colleagues.
I look forward to the ongoing partnership offering even more college students this worthwhile possibility.”
Simerly said shifting ahead the program ought to enlarge into other career fields. Still, DLA Troop Support will keep working with the Philadelphia School District to assess and not forget how to create extra fulfillment. “We’re enthusiastic about the ability that could come frits impactt could have on our organization, the Philadelphia School District, and the scholars,” Simerly said. “We hope each of the interns now has a higher idea of a professional field they want to pursue and may leverage their revel in right here to gain more opportunities.”