Bailey Shannon waters cherry trees for the National Park Service. Photo contributed
In a two week internship at the end of their senior year, more than 85 members of the Madison High Class of 2019 went out into the workforce with an opportunity to learn more about their career interests.
It was by utilizing their vast resources in the metropolitan community that students were able to experience hands-on opportunities at a wide range of local businesses and organizations to include the Georgetown University Hospital, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the U.S. Senate.
Participating students applied for the internship in the fall of their senior year and were required to maintain a certain GPA throughout the year to qualify for the program. A teacher or faculty member at the school sponsored the student's internship and served as a point of contact and assistance throughout the internship.
Bailey Shannon spent her time working with the National Park Service and was able to combine two interests in one as she helped plant and nurture a field of cherry trees as well as serve as a photojournalist for the process. Carson Miller stayed closer to Madison as she worked at one of the school's feeder elementary schools, Flint Hill, to experience life as an elementary educator.
The culmination of the internship was a Presentation of Learning at which students presented to the administration and teachers what they learned from their experience. Leah DeFreitas, who interned at Compassion Over Killing, was able to showcase the YouTube videos she helped the vegan organization film and publish. Graham McCarthy, who interned at Big Planet Comics, shared his gratitude for the internship and explained during his presentation all that he learned about business contracts and original comic prints.
This was the second year of the WINGS program at Madison HS.