From high school to opportunity: Summer interns needed

Keeping young people engaged, giving them experience in the workforce, providing them with income at a rate of $15 an hour and offering businesses an opportunity to have more hands on deck for the summer, Doña Ana County is generating opportunity through the Summer Enrichment Internship Program.

“The county has been very fortunate to be able to partner with the New Mexico Public Education Department with funding for this program,” said County Manager Fernando Macias during a Chamber of Commerce event last week.

He said the program which started two years ago placing 450 high school students in internship positions, placed 850 in 132 different placements last year. This year he is hoping to place close to 1,200 students into the summer jobs.

“This year they will get $15 an hour with the potential to make $3,000 dollars this summer, working 20 hours a week,” Macias said. “The biggest problem is placements. The city places 83 in different departments. We are looking to support private business and nonprofits too.”

The students are onboarded as county employees, Macias said. They are covered by workers comp and insurance. They are also supervised as the county is also hiring 40-50 coordinators to manage the interns.

“We really have to be working with young people to help shape their future,” he said. “This way they also have a level of income, so they are not looking in the wrong places to generate income.”

The internship program is open to 15-year-olds to graduating high school seniors and starts on May 22, with graduating seniors starting as early as May 15. 

“It is critical that we develop placements in a short period of time,” Macias said. “I want to encourage the community to assist us in making this program as impactful for our students and business partners as possible.”

To participate or learn more about the program visit www.donaanacounty.org/summerintern.