News Details
WVWD’s Internship Program Fuels Career Aspirations for Local High School Students
August 7, 2024
Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) proudly celebrates the successful conclusion of its 8-week summer internship program. This year’s program provided 11 outstanding local high school students with immersive, hands-on work experience. Building on the success of past years, the program aimed to give interns a thorough understanding of different roles within the District and to inspire them with potential career opportunities. Notably, a number of current WVWD employees launched their careers through the internship program, demonstrating its lasting impact.
The recruitment process for the program was designed to be both comprehensive and accessible for students. It included introductory presentations at the high schools, an online pre-interview workshop offering interview preparation tips, and finally, in-person interviews at the District office. From a pool of over 150 applicants, 11 students were chosen to participate. Each intern was placed in a department that matched their skills and interests expressed during the interview, with placements in Customer Service, Engineering, External Affairs and Sustainability, General Services, Water Production, and Field Operations.
Feedback from this year’s interns has been overwhelmingly positive, with many mentioning an increase in self-confidence and determination to continue building new skills. “Our team was thrilled with the commitment and progress of these interns,” said Sheryl Shaw, General Manager of WVWD. “Our goal was to support students, particularly those uncertain of their post-high school paths, by exposing them to career possibilities they might not have previously considered. We look forward to continuing this valuable program.”
Following the program, several interns have shown a strong interest in pursuing careers in the water industry directly after high school, with some already preparing for water distribution and treatment exams and seeking mentorship from our staff. This growing enthusiasm highlights the program’s success in both educating and inspiring the next generation of water professionals.
