Youth Gain STEM Summer Internship Experience
From Columbia Gorge STEM Hub:
By Nicole Tolmie
The Dalles, Ore. Aug. 30, 2024 — In partnership with Columbia Gorge Community College, Cardinal Glass Industries, and Oregon STEM, a handful of youth participated in career-connected learning experiences during the summer as interns.
In alignment with Oregon STEM’s mission to promote equitable access to STEM opportunities across Oregon, the Spark Oregon initiative is a partnership between Oregon STEM and Columbia Gorge Education Service District, the backbone agency that houses the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, to support career-connected learning in an earn-to-learn model for historically underrepresented youth in STEM.
Two summer interns, both previous 12th-grade students and recent graduates from Hood River Valley High School rotated through departments at Cardinal Glass to learn about advanced manufacturing. The interns participated in five pre-internship training sessions that included employee orientations, presentations from Cardinal Glass employees on their journey, and learning from workforce development specialists and industry leaders.
They then completed a 3 week, of on-site work experience from Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm, gaining experience at the Cardinal Plant in Hood River and learning about 5 areas of the company: Industrial Safety, Quality Control, Maintenance, IT, and Leadership. Cardinal IG is one of the largest employers in our region, employing over 400 people in a 550,000 sq ft facility in Hood River. The Hood River plant features industry-leading automation and robotics and produces 2.5 million IG (insulated glass) units a year.
A portion of the awarded Catalyze funds were also sub-awarded to Columbia Gorge Community College for further internship creation in our Region. An additional seven interns between the ages of 14-18 received hands-on training in fabrication and construction from Columbia Gorge Community College instructors, helping support the new playground installation at Chenowith Elementary School. Additionally, youth helped bring life back to the greenhouse at The Dalles High School.
Interns met onsite at Columbia Gorge Community College (The Dalles) in Advanced Manufacturing & Construction Skills labs and visited Chenowith Elementary School to work alongside contractors and CGCC instructors for playground installation.
This 80-hour internship included 8 hours of pre-internship work to include Oregon Career Information System (ORCIS) workforce development and safety training. Interns were supervised by Columbia Gorge Community College’s CTE instructors and Career Connected Learning Systems Navigator, Dylan McManus.
Columbia Gorge STEM Hub is appreciative of the sponsors and partners who were instrumental in providing these valuable opportunities to our regional youth! If your company is interested in supporting youth interns in the future, visit www.gorgestem.org.
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