New Canaan High Renews Senior Intern Program

NEW CANAAN, Conn. – Whether they aspire to be diplomats, television news anchors or architects, members of the New Canaan High School Class of 2012 should get a feel for what adults deal with on a daily basis, Meri Erickson says.

“As kids get ready to go into the workforce, it’s important to have some work experience,” said Erickson, special events director for the Philip Johnson Glass House.  “Work experience is really important.”

Some of this year’s seniors will get a taste of what’s to come as the school’s college and career center again hosts its Senior Internship Program.  

The application process opened Monday for the program, which gives seniors a chance to work up to 30 hours a week in the final four weeks of the school year. Participating students receive credit for the work but are not paid. The program is open to all seniors who are passing all of their classes and whose attendance is in good standing.

Susan Carroll, College and Career Center coordinator at New Canaan High, said she would like 30 seniors to enroll this year, a significant jump from last year. “Although we only had 12 interns last year, all 12 had amazing experiences,” said Carroll, who expects more participants because of increased promotion this year. Carroll plans to contact more companies farther from New Canaan to be able to offer more experiences.

Carroll and other internship organizers will reach out to companies in line with students’ interests after the Dec. 16 application deadline. Based on an initial survey, Carroll said this year’s seniors are interested in public health, sports media, politics, engineering, landscaping and architecture. “Every (business) that had an intern last year said they would do it again, and they had admiration for the kids,” Carroll said. “They worked hard and asked smart questions.”

Erickson praises Jasmine Allen, who interned at the Glass House last spring. Allen helped plan the Glass House’s annual fundraiser as well as an event celebrating the relationship between the Glass House and New Canaan High School.

“It’s a great program for us,” Erickson said. “She had the opportunity to jump in and help us plan one of our events.”

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