MAYOR’S INTERN FELLOWS PROGRAM REAPS REWARDS FOR 59 DALLAS ISD STUDENTS EXPERIENCING REAL-WORLD BUSINESS CULTURE
DALLAS (August 5, 2011) – Imagine the excitement of a 16-year-old who aspires to be a surgeon donning scrubs to watch a complicated surgery … or a teen experiencing the drama of an ad campaign launch. Picture eight weeks where a student gets a peek at the inner-workings of a powerful restaurant conglomerate or a chance to capture the passion of the nonprofit world. Such were just a sampling of the experiences that Education is Freedom students experienced this summer as part of the eight-week, full-time Mayor’s Intern Fellows program. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings honored 59 Dallas ISD high school students – and their employers – at the Mayor’s Intern Fellows luncheon held today at The Music Hall at Fair Park.
Thanks to the Mayor’s Intern Fellows program, these Dallas ISD students worked 40-hour weeks in coveted positions earning $2,880, soaking up real-world knowledge and eye-opening experiences at Dallas’ top corporations, large non-profits, and legal firms. Depending on their internships, the students did everything from shadow Fortune 500 executives and work in advertising firms, to walk the halls of hospitals and major financial institutions.
EIF president/CEO Marcia Page says the internships give qualified students a realistic view of the working world, allowing them to utilize their potential and visualize their future. She adds that through this experience students see first-hand where a quality education can lead and the education paths they’ll need to follow to get there.
“My message to kids whether they’re in first grade or freshmen is ‘go to college.’ It’s the most important choice a young person can make,” said Mayor Rawlings. “I completely support Education is Freedom’s mission, and I’m absolutely thrilled that the Mayor’s Intern Fellows – an innovative program that involves the business community – is igniting a passion for college within these students.”
Joining Mayor Rawlings at today’s event were Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia; Dr. Claudia Rodriguez, Chief of Staff at Dallas ISD; Angela Ross, vice president of external and legislative affairs for AT&T; Marcia Page, president and CEO of Education is Freedom; and the 59 students and representatives from the participating companies. (Read more...)