Watertown Community Foundation interns Cristopher Patvakanian; Zoe Grodsky; Kira Peterson; and Brian Amedio pose with Watertown High School Guidance Counselor, Adrienne Eaton, and WCF board member, Lora Sabin.
How do high schoolers get that critical first work experience? Last summer, the Watertown Community Foundation (WCF) and the Watertown High School Guidance Department piloted an internship program for local teens. For meaningful summer work experience at a business or organization of their choice, students earned a modest stipend.
The pilot was intended to cover four students, but the number of outstanding applications led WCF to increase funding and five were selected.
“I learned so much from participating…. This opportunity pushed me to be innovative in finding an organization to work with that would allow me to learn while making a difference in the community,” reported Kira Peterson, who interned at the North End Music Performing Arts Center in Boston.
The interns were: Cristopher Patvakanian (Wayside Multi-Service Center in Watertown); Zoe Grodsky (Transition House in Cambridge); Kira Peterson; and Brian Amedio (American Video Game League in Watertown). Asher Harris (not pictured) did his internship at the Watertown Boys and Girls Club.
Given the program’s success, WCF and WHS guidance counselors hope to continue it next year, and possibly expand it with support from area businesses. To learn more about WCF and our programs, visit www.watertownfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/watertowncommunityfoundation