The Ponte Vedra-based architectural firm Powers Design recently teamed with Nease High School to participate in its student internship program. The program was designed to assist students in determining a college major and to help them focus on career options after graduation.
Hannah Hawkins, a senior at Nease enrolled in the school’s International Baccalaureate Program, created the mini-internship program that allows junior and seniors to meet with professionals in their particular fields of interest in order to gain a better understanding of the profession, along with the skills and educated needed to succeed in that field. Hawkins formed the program with the assistance of guidance counselor Aletha Dresback.
“For most high school students, the two most significant decisions that they face are choosing a college major and selecting the specific college to attend. One way to help this decision-making process for the students is to provide them the opportunity to experience different job situations firsthand,” said Hawkins.
The students were introduced to a variety of Powers Design’s projects including mixed-use, commercial, residential, planning, landscape architecture and graphic projects. The students also met each member of the firm to learn about their roles and job responsibilities. In turn, each student was given the opportunity to ask questions about the design process, the client-architect relationship, and how they relate to one another.
The students will meet with Powers Design members on an ongoing basis with firm members serving as mentors for decisions regarding colleges and courses of study.
Other participating companies include Landstar Systems, Inc.; Patterson & Associates, CPAs; Rezniksek, Fraser & Hastings; CSX Transportation, The Kyle Clinic, Baptist Medical Center South, EverBank and Beaches Animal Clinic.