The program Internships: Partnering with Businesses to Mutually Benefit Employers and Students provided insight into the new Northeast Berks Internship Program for Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce members at the Oct. 16 breakfast.
East Penn Manufacturing, Lyons, sponsored the breakfast program held at Moselem Springs Golf Club, Fleetwood.
Brian Noecker of East Penn Manufacturing talked about the legacy left by East Penn’s founder DeLight E. Breidegam Jr. who died recently at age 88. “He was always involved, he would always give back to the community.”
Noecker said Breidegam built the business on the principles of being generous and caring to co-workers, community and partners, principles that continue today.
“And that’s how we’re able to do something like this, which is sponsor this breakfast which is a great event. We will continue to be involved in the community.”
Noecker encouraged the students to remember East Penn. “We would be happy to have anyone who does the things that you do, including the internship program.”
Noecker is mentoring a Kutztown High School intern.
“It’s valuable to give experiences and opportunities to students so that they can see exactly what happens,” said Noecker. “It allows us to share experiences and be able to show students what we do. It’s a great opportunity. We’re educating these students, we’re having them do things in our community.”
Northeast Berks Chamber’s Business & Education Committee chair Kathy Metrick, Kutztown Superintendent, opened the discussion about the Northeast Berks Internship Program.
“We’re talking about partnerships,” said Metrick.
The program partnerships include the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, employers and their mentors, school districts, educators and students, as well as Dr. Lausch Solomon of Berks Business Education Coalition who advised and found grant money for the program. In addition, small business owners provided input for the program, including Pam Gockley of Vigilant Corp. and Al Ottinger from QUIC Inc.
“Many internship programs exist, we did not make this up,” said Metrick. “Seldom, however, do school districts work together, and even more unlikely is it for them to work with their chamber, so the input from our chamber has been invaluable.”
The Northeast Berks Chamber reached out to membership and asked for interested employers to host interns. “That has been extremely helpful,” said Metrick.
“The Internship Program is mutually beneficial for businesses or nonprofits and for students,” said Chamber Executive Director Lori B. Donofrio-Galley. “Students become aware of employment opportunities in their own communities and experience firsthand the daily work involved in careers in which they have interest. Businesses serve as mentors to students, find ways to engage interns in meaningful ways, and identify potential future employees.”
“Each of the school districts has its own process but each is working to maximize the opportunities of our students outside of the school house walls,” said Metrick.
The internship experience will count as an elective class for junior or senior high school students during the regular school day.
Brandywine, Hamburg and Kutztown high school internship sites include Judy Schwank’s office, Kohler Landscaping, DWS Technologies, The Crossroads Group, MJ Electric, Solar Innovations, Silver Maple Veterinary Clinic, Good Shepherd Home Kutztown, Young Ones Records, Gemini Construction and the chamber, to name a few.
Program presenters were Mike Kistler, Brandywine Heights Area School District; Tom Miller, Kutztown Area School District; and Clare Kilpatrick Benz, Hamburg Area School District, as well as a panel of student interns and business mentors.
“We have four students who are in our Project LEAD the Way, the national pre-engineering program. They are interning at three different sites of engineering firms and related businesses and one who is working for Alyse Mitten, Interlace Communications so as we’ve mentioned, it can take different formats,” said Benz.
Benz said the students are in theory to work two periods a day but that varies. One student starts his day at the internship site, others leave school mid day for the internship and another student interns after school.
“We’ve reached out to employers we’ve had relationships with already or are in the area and we’re very grateful for that,” said Benz.
Miller said students came to him with their interest and he contacted local employers, looking for a good match.
“We’re trying to keep 12th period free so that students have the opportunity at 2 p.m. to go out and to intern, hopefully for at least an hour a day,” he said.
He is looking for a mentor with enthusiasm. “That kind of willingness to help our students and to work with them enthusiastically and to allow them into your doors and into your businesses and allow them to be a part of your busy day, I think that’s so valuable.”
Miller said that the internships help students experience a career of interest, “It’s super valuable for students to see maybe what they don’t want to do at the same time they’re seeing what they do want to do.”
“It’s definitely been very beneficial because I wouldn’t have gotten to see the education standpoint that marketing can have as well as the business standpoint. I’ve gotten see a major I want to pursue in two different ways,” said Brandywine student Brooke Zeall, a marketing intern at Brandywine Heights. She has learned public speaking skills, communication skills and gained leadership roles which she feels will better prepare her for college and later in life for the real world. “It’s something I’m going to reflect on as I go forward… I’m stepping out of my comfort zone which I don’t think I would have had the chance to do without the program in a typical high school setting.”
“My participation in this internship has really influenced me for my plans for after high school,” said Hamburg student Wyatt Ritchie, an intern at The Crossroads Group. “Being able to go everyday and see what a civil engineer does, it’s really been an awesome experience. It really makes me want to go for any field in engineering. It’s been a fun experience. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Ritchie is helping in the drawing up the plans for a maintenance shed at Hamburg High School. He is learning to present himself professionally.
Kutztown student Patrick Moyer said he entered his internship at The Kutztown Area Patriot unsure of whether journalism was something he wanted to pursue. “It’s been a great experience.” Since starting the internship, he has submitted all of his college applications with journalism as his major.
“I love it. It’s a great internship,” said Moyer. “I feel myself progressing every week and getting better and more comfortable. It’s a really valuable experience that I recommend everybody does.”
