CARBONDALE – The City of Carbondale is pleased to announce that they have selected 19 local Carbondale Community High School students as participants of the 2024 Summer Internship Program. The eight-week program will kick off on Friday, May 31 and continue through Friday, July 26 2024.

Program Coordinator Sharonda Cawthon states, “The inaugural cohort is full of students from diverse backgrounds with various goals and aspirations. Our objective is for the interns to gain valuable knowledge and experience that will benefit them in their educational and career goals while having meaningful and memorable experiences with one another throughout the program.” The internship program embraces the City’s 2030 vision and goal to foster a sense of community through implementing a summer job program for young adults.

Nine departments from across the city will participate in the summer program that include the Engineering Department, Community Development Services Department, and the Building and Neighborhood Services Department. In addition to gaining transferable work skills, students will participate in a weekly lunch and learn program in which they will meet community leaders that will speak on a variety of topics like entrepreneurship, etiquette, and networking. Program Coordinator Dianah McGreehan notes, “We are so excited to see such an array of community leaders wanting to be a part of this program. For example, the directors of Jackson County CEO will be joining us to teach students about becoming self-reliant, enterprising individuals engaged in the economic development of our community.”

“I am thrilled to see the vision and planning for the City of Carbondale Summer Internship Program finally take shape. My hope is that this is just the beginning! Dianah and I envision this being a growing opportunity for CCHS students for years to come,” notes Cawthon. Selected students will participate in an orientation and onboarding meeting on Friday, May 31 at which they will meet with Mayor Harvey, members of their cohort, and department leaders.

For more information about the program, please contact Sharonda Cawthon at SCawthon@explorecarbondale.com or Dianah McGreehan at DMcgreehan@explorecarbondale.com or call 618-549-5302.