FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 

CONTACT: John Schuster
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
305-995-1126

IT’S MORE THAN JUST A GRADE:  M-DCPS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMPANIES TO PROVIDE A SUCCESSFUL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM


Miami, FL – This summer, over 300 high school students participated in a summer internship program at various companies representing hospitality & tourism, engineering, information technology and finance. Even with the economic downturn, the Miami business community (152 companies) showed its support for the program and its students with a 46% increase in the number of paid internships. 

Employers, when asked what they liked best about the program replied: “The opportunity to see two young students so eager to learn, responsible, punctual and sensitive to the working needs of others.  I hope to keep in touch with them in the years to come,” stated Jean Orta, Human Resources Manager, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Anthony Greenwood Sr., Owner, McDonalds Restaurants, added, “The internship is a successful program because the students apply what they learned in the academy by working on needed projects assigned to them at the company.”

Students appreciate this opportunity afforded to them. Amadeus Huff, a student at Miami Beach Senior High School who completed his internship at Sherlock Technology Staffing states, “The internship provides students the experience of working in their desired field to see if this is what they really want to pursue.  It also allows students to spend their summer productively while making money at the same time.”  Adrian Abadie, a student at North Miami Senior High School interned at Odebrecht Construction and states, “The strength of the internship is that it provided me with the real life aspect of how construction management really works.”  Laysu Borges who attends Hialeah Gardens Senior High School indicated, “The internship gets students more involved in the ethics of working and on projects.”  An academy graduate who is now an internship supervisor at the Best Western Atlantic Resort commented, “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do an internship.  It’s lasted seven years and counting!”

This extension of the learning environment enables students to see first-hand the connections between what they learned in school and the world of business. Students develop professional skills, gain self-confidence, and receive exposure to many different facets of the business world.

The National Academy Foundation (NAF) is a national network of career academies.  Presently, there are 46 NAF career academies in 26 senior high schools within Miami-Dade County Public Schools.  These programs operate under the auspices of the School Choice & Parental Options office.  M-DCPS is proud to have two out of seven schools nationally designated as “Distinguished” academies.
                                                           
 EDITOR’S NOTE:  Photos attached

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Pictured left to right: David Carballosa, Intern; Jean Orta, Human Resources Manager, GMCVB; Laysu Borges, Intern

 

Pictured left to right:  Anthony Greenwood, Jr.-Director of Operations; Anthony Greenwood, Sr.-President/Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants; Pedro Garcia, Regional Director of Operations of South Florida, McDonald’s Corporation; Carlos Solórzano, Field Service Manager, McDonald’s Corporation; Anthony Perez, Intern; Jennifer Menjivar, Intern; and Ben Abrishami, Business Consultant

 

Pictured left to right:  Francheska Salguero, Intern; Brian Sheinblum, Supervisor-Carlton Hotel; Jose Salyrosas, Intern

 

Amadeus Huff, Intern at Sherlock Technology Staffing

 

 

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