Cardinal Students Receive Work Experience Through Internship Program

posted December 20, 2022

As we close out 2022 and look back on the year, we’re thankful for so many wonderful opportunities our students had, including the Cardinal Youth Summer Internship Project. 

The project is funded by the Future Ready Iowa Summer Youth Intern Program Grant. The grant funds opportunities to place youth at risk in internships in high-demand fields. 

Thanks to the grant, eleven of our students had the chance to gain paid work experience and build employable skills through the program. Our students even went through the application, interview, and hiring process to prepare them for the future. 

Students shadowed professionals and/or participated in hands-on activities in the role they were assigned. We had students working with clinic nurses, ER nurses, medical lab technicians, welders, farm equipment technicians, dental hygienists, middle school teachers, elementary/preschool teachers, and grounds maintenance technicians. At the end of each week, the students underwent weekly performance evaluations with their supervisors to understand their strengths and where they can improve. 

“The program gave students a real feel of applying and interviewing, regularly being in a workplace setting, and how it feels to earn and manage their own money,” says Andrea Cottey, Cardinal special education teacher. “It also helped them further refine their plans as far as what industry they want (or don’t want) to pursue a career in after high school and what electives or even dual credit classes they want to take while finishing high school.”

Cottey plans to apply for the grant again in the spring and hopes it is awarded to the school again so this opportunity can continue for other students.  

“I enjoyed seeing students earning and learning while getting hands-on experience and this program put government money to good use,” she shares.

Local employers interested in partnering on the next summer program are encouraged to contact Andrea Cottey at andrea.cottey@cardinalcomet.com for more information.