DALLAS (August 5, 2011) – Imagine the excitement of a 16-year-old who aspires to be a surgeon donning scrubs to watch a complicated surgery … or a teen experiencing the drama of an ad campaign launch. Picture eight weeks where a student gets a peek at the inner-workings of a powerful restaurant conglomerate or a chance to capture the passion of the nonprofit world. Such were just a sampling of the experiences that Education is Freedom students experienced this summer as part of the eight-week, full-time Mayor’s Intern Fellows program. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings honored 59 Dallas ISD high school students – and their employers – at the Mayor’s Intern Fellows luncheon held today at The Music Hall at Fair Park.
Thanks to the Mayor’s Intern Fellows program, these Dallas ISD students worked 40-hour weeks in coveted positions earning $2,880, soaking up real-world knowledge and eye-opening experiences at Dallas’ top corporations, large non-profits, and legal firms. Depending on their internships, the students did everything from shadow Fortune 500 executives and work in advertising firms, to walk the halls of hospitals and major financial institutions.
EIF president/CEO Marcia Page says the internships give qualified students a realistic view of the working world, allowing them to utilize their potential and visualize their future. She adds that through this experience students see first-hand where a quality education can lead and the education paths they’ll need to follow to get there.
“My message to kids whether they’re in first grade or freshmen is ‘go to college.’ It’s the most important choice a young person can make,” said Mayor Rawlings. “I completely support Education is Freedom’s mission, and I’m absolutely thrilled that the Mayor’s Intern Fellows – an innovative program that involves the business community – is igniting a passion for college within these students.”
Joining Mayor Rawlings at today’s event were Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia; Dr. Claudia Rodriguez, Chief of Staff at Dallas ISD; Angela Ross, vice president of external and legislative affairs for AT&T; Marcia Page, president and CEO of Education is Freedom; and the 59 students and representatives from the participating companies
In 2008, the Mayor’s Intern Fellow program was launched by lead sponsor AT&T and Education Is Freedom (EIF), a non-profit founded in 2002 whose mission is to provide comprehensive college-planning services that produce life-changing results EIF’s overall goals are to prevent low-income students from dropping out of high school, assist students as they prepare for college during middle and high school, help them navigate college entrance and financial aid processes, equip students with skills needed to complete college, and help students leverage private and public scholarship funds to pay for college.
“I truly had had an experience 16 year olds could only dream about,” said JaVonte Starling, a 16-year-junior at Skyline who plans to attend UT-Austin and become a a surgeon. “I’ve done everything from sitting in a cubicle filing papers, to paying bills for the hospital. I went from sitting in an operating room witnessing a woman getting a disc removed from her throat to seeing a woman having her ovaries removed. I’ve even found out what it’s like being in a clinic with a doctor seeing the different types of patients they encounter on a daily basis.”
EIF currently works with 19 of 22 comprehensive Dallas ISD high schools and six middle schools beginning as early as sixth grade. EIF offers components such as full-time, on-campus advisors, professional development, parent outreach, mentoring and assistance applying to and securing resources for college.
Page attributes the program’s success to advance preparation and the ongoing guidance given to the students and the employers. The students’ first hurdle was competing against approximately other students at a job fair held in April. They also participated in several training programs focusing on communication, protocol, workplace attire, expectations, etc. EIF Dallas staff also stayed in close contact with the students and employers throughout the summer to assess the internship fit and address any concerns.
“Our primary mission at Education is Freedom is to first instill the belief that they CAN go to college and then provide a roadmap to get them there,” said Page. “And the Mayor’s Intern Fellows can be a life-changing experience for our students. After eight weeks, they leave clearly understanding the powerful connection between education and a great career. Our employers are making a remarkable impression, and for that we are very grateful.”
In addition to AT&T, other participating companies include JP Morgan Chase, Oncor, Tenet Healthcare, Brinker International, Parkland Hospital, ACS, The Volunteer Center of Dallas and many others. (See complete list at end of news release.)
This month EIF will begin recruiting students for the 2011-2012 academic year. To learn more, go to educationisfreedom.org