Written by Communications Services junior associate, Chandler Flowers
When students walk on campus for their first day, the air is clean, the ceilings have no broken tiles, and not a single door is broken. This is all thanks to the hard work of the Maintenance and Facility Service Department, and this summer, interns learned how to clean and fix everything a school needs to operate.
“Maintenance and Facility Services has had student interns in the past, but this is the first year we have collaborated with Workforce Development and Employer Relations,” said Katherine Murdock, manager of maintenance in the Maintenance and Facility Services Department. “I am extremely excited about this collaboration.”
Their day-to-day is filled with constant learning, traveling to schools, and continuous problem-solving.
“I get to the shop around 6 a.m. to clock in,” said Erika R., a rising senior at Skyline High School. “Around 6:30 a.m., my mentor, Lindsey checks work orders for the day. After arriving at the schools, we find the problem, and hands-on work is done as required.”
The only girl intern working with the Energy Management System unit, Erika is focused on learning and working with HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems. Her goal this summer is to replace a variable air volume box.
“I was interested in this internship because it gave me the opportunity to get firsthand experience in a job I’m considering as a career while being productive over the summer, meeting new people, and stepping out of my comfort zone,” she said.
Her advice to students considering being interns is to take the opportunity, even if it’s scary.
“If it doesn’t scare you it isn’t worth doing,” Erika said.
Murdock voiced similar thoughts about the value of internships.
“It gives students the chance to experience real-world businesses,” she said. “Our interns are gaining valuable people skills, technical knowledge from experienced mentors, and the ability to practice skills learned in their courses.”
Murdock has nothing but praise for Erika and the other student interns.
“The work is not glamorous, but they have all made a commitment to do an excellent job and learn as much as they can from their mentors,” she said. “I am really impressed with our interns and the dedication they have for their craft and the job.”
