Fire department internships to provide real-world experience
The Conway Fire Department will take on two medical interns from the Conway Area Career Center in the fall after the Conway City Council approved $7,000 for the part-time internships Tuesday night.
Nelda Reed, internship coordinator for the CACC, said she was pleased with how supportive the council is of the program.
"This is a great opportunity the city has allowed us," Reed said. "They're excited and willing to connect with our students."
Cody Smith and Kernesia Kelly, both seniors from Conway High School, were the first students selected for the internships.
Nick Stroman, director of the CACC, said students in the health sciences career focus with at least two credits can apply for the internship program. Reed said interested students must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in their health sciences career focus classes. The students must also get four positive letters of recommendation and have no more than six absences from classes in one school year.
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The students get paid and receive class credit for the internship. Reed said the student's pay starts 25 cents above minimum wage.
"These students do not just walk in off the street," Reed said. "They are focused on their future and have some instruction in the medical field."
The medical interns will be used in a lot of different areas from helping make emergency runs to helping with fire prevention education, according to Fire Chief Bart Castleberry. Reed said the interns would not perform any dangerous or hazardous tasks.
"On ride-alongs, the interns will be confined to safe zones," Reed said. "They will mostly help with education and fire safety training."
The internship positions will last the entire school year. New interns will be selected before the end of the 2008-09 school year. Reed said the students will work 12-20 hours at the fire department during the school year.
"This is a win-win situation for everybody," Reed said. "The students get out of school early, work in field that is their career focus and their being paid. Parents love it for all the reasons above."
Gaining first-hand experience will help these students secure jobs in the future, according to Stroman.
"Employers will want someone to have experience in the field rather than just having classroom experience," Stroman said.
Reed said she the CACC has been working to get an internship with the fire department for several years.
"We have had several medical students interested in interning with the fire department the past few years," Reed said. "This will be a great opportunity for our students."
Dr. Greg Murray, superintendent for the Conway School District, agrees with Reed.
"This will be a unique experience for these students to assist in the process of fire protection," Murray said. "I hope the program grows and has more students interested in the future."