There’s good news in McDonough as Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) and Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) celebrate the recent completion of their summer internship program. The program was designed to introduce local high school students to the water industry and help them find potential career opportunities. With over a decade-long partnership, HCWA and SCTC partnered up this spring to expand their program by offering summer internships. The program, which just concluded, drew in twelve local high school juniors and seniors who gained in-depth experiences in the industry. Today, we’ll share with you how it went and why it matters to the future of water professionals.

The SCTC-HCWA Summer Institute Internship Program is part of the initiative to ensure no skill shortages in the water industry. The program offers high school students work experience and academic credits through internships. The first class of students to have completed the program was celebrated as they gathered in the Indian Creek Water Reclamation Facility, where most worked for the summer.

The program is a paid internship that offers specific job responsibilities in horticulture and industrial systems technology. As participants of the program, students spent the duration of their internships working in different areas of HCWA operations. They were assigned HCWA employee mentors who guided them in performing their duties and helped them understand what water professionals do. The interns were grateful for the opportunity, and many remarked on how transformative it was for them.

One of the critical aspects of the SCTC-HCWA Summer Institute Internship Program is the mentorship aspect. Mentors work closely with interns to help them understand what it takes to work in the water industry. The mentors also provide students with academic guidance and carry out evaluations. Students who participated in the program were excited to learn from experienced water professionals. The interns were grateful for the support and mentorship that was provided to them throughout the internship program.

The program also provides students with financial aid opportunities. Students can take advantage of the course financial aid available through SCTC. Financial aid helps cover program expenses and ensures students take advantage of all opportunities. Some students might not have been able to attend the program without financial assistance. However, with this aid, students know they have the support they need to advance their skills in the water industry.

The SCTC-HCWA Summer Institute Internship Program is a valuable initiative that introduces high school students to the water industry. The program helps ensure that there is a sufficient number of skills in the water industry while providing students with valuable work experience and academic credits. This summer’s internship program was a great success, with twelve local high school juniors and seniors completing the program. HCWA and SCTC will continue working together to give high school students more opportunities to gain the necessary skills to succeed in the water industry. It is truly heartwarming to see HCWA and SCTC coming together to offer this program and its impact on the future of our water professionals.