(TNS) — The New York Power Authority is exposing interns to real-world scenarios as part of its Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) initiative.
“We had 40 paid interns last summer, and the total number of interns has increased to 82 since the program began in 2021,” Environmental Justice Manager Alexandra DeRosa told NYPA board members this week.
She said the goal of this program is to prepare students for careers in utilities and align their learning with energy industry skill sets, something we are very proud of. said.
“Last year, we were able to achieve our first success in offering industry certifications as part of our internship program. Approximately 20 interns completed the Energy Audit Certification, or the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and CLT (Certified). We also had interns who had pilot certifications and FAA 107 (drone license certification) certifications,” DeRosa said.
“For us, this is a great step in expanding our work experience, and we are fully committed to providing these students with the best six-week internship possible.”
She said they keep in touch with many of the interns through Linked In, text and email, and are learning how some of them have gone on to careers in the workforce. Some of them were hired as assistant systems operators at Clark Energy Center, she said. Two others were employed as energy auditors, and one was employed by Connie Edison.
“It's really exciting for us to be able to work with stakeholders in ways that lead to new careers. It's really rewarding for our team to be able to have this kind of impact,” said DeRosa. Told.
The company plans to accept 50 interns this summer.
“The numbers are slowly increasing,” she said.
These interns will be working in cybersecurity.
“These are attractive projects. They can fly drones and work on cybersecurity projects. This allows us to draw interns into the program and make it attractive to young people.” DeRosa said.
The Junior Fellowship program they will launch in the fall will offer P-Tech students the opportunity to participate in a paid, year-long energy-related research project.
“It's new to us,” she said. “This is a way we can engage with young students and give them work experience opportunities.”
The Power Administration is offering six-week paid internships to dozens of P-TECH scholars who live in disadvantaged communities near NYPA's power generation and transmission facilities. Interns will spend most of their time working alongside colleagues and NYPA staff, contributing directly to real-world projects that advance New York State's clean energy goals.
In addition to hands-on technical projects, interns will receive one-on-one mentoring, dedicate one full day each week to financial literacy, introduction to NYPA staff across various departments, and follow-through training in professionalism and “soft skills.” Receive learning. Us To Success is a national company focused on helping disadvantaged student populations from urban and rural backgrounds close the post-secondary achievement gap.
P-TECH partners with power departments, local high schools, and community colleges to educate students and ensure they have the skills they need to get a job after graduation. Eligible participants include high school and community college students pursuing their two-year associate's degree in a STEM field.
“The New York Power Authority is committed to inspiring more young people from diverse backgrounds to enter and succeed in clean energy careers,” President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said in a statement. I am working hard to.'' “By granting access to our facilities, matching students with staff mentors, and giving them roles in specific clean energy projects, these young scholars gain real-world work experience and become more involved in the clean energy economy. You will develop many specific skills needed for the job.”
©2024 Watertown Daily Times (Watertown, NY). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
