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CTE Students Intern in their Tech Fields
Wells Fargo Interns Solve Real-World Problems
Students Participate in "Hands On" Graphic Arts Experience
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More Info: For more information on the College Guidance Initiative, please contact Joanna Munoz or call 212-601-0002.
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As the summer draws to a close, August is a time for us to reflect on what we accomplished this season. With over 180 interns working, this summer was our busiest yet. Futures and Options managed ten internship programs this summer, five of which were new this year. One of these new programs, the George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education Summer Internship Program, was an exciting new way we collaborated with George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, one of our long-time partner schools in Brooklyn.
George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School (George Westinghouse CTE) not only gives the students a traditional high school curriculum, but it also trains students in one of six technical sequences: A+ Computer Repair, Cisco Networking, Computer Aided Design, Electrical Technology, Multi-Media, or Vision Care Technology. Our task was to connect 30 George Westinghouse CTE students with internships in their technical fields – a first for our organization, which has never focused on such specialized placements before. Recruiting internship partners meant both establishing new relationships and learning the ins-and-outs of each particular field.
Nowhere was the recruitment more challenging than in the electrical field, where working directly with wiring would be too hazardous students under the age of eighteen, and where employment in the supply houses is typically negotiated through the union.
Fortunately, Futures and Options found an incredible partner in Annette Diaz of IBEW Local 3, who believed in our mission and in the importance of exposing young people to careers in the field. Her support connected us to several new partners who provided engaging, hands-on work experiences for our students. The supervisors enjoyed working with our interns, who brought energy and enthusiasm to the workplace, and appreciated the opportunity to help pave the way for the next generation. "It has been gratifying to be able to work with Future and Options, IBEW Local 3 and give back to the community," said Barry Seitles of Tremont Electric Supply. "It's been a pleasure to have Dexter Marcelle for the summer internship program."
Left to right: Melvin Hernandez and Barry Seitles from Tremont Electric Supply with intern Dexter Marcelle.
Even with the initial challenges of launching a new program in such specialized fields, the first summer of the Westinghouse CTE Program was a great success. We are proud of our students, appreciative of all our supervisors, and thankful for partners like Ms. Diaz who helped bring us together. We also appreciate all of the support from Linda Epstein and Joe Arzuaga at George Westinghouse CTE High School. We hope to continue this winning program next summer!
Wells Fargo Interns Visit the NYSE
Thanks to Jon Weiss, Co-Head of Investment Banking at Wells Fargo Securities, and Bill Ernest, Futures and Options' Board Member and Director in the bank's Financial Sponsors Group (FSG), Wells Fargo Securities partnered with Futures and Options to pilot a six-week summer internship program for five New York City high school juniors and seniors.
Xavier Vanhoy, FSG Business Manager, Elizabeth Dichiaro, Equity Capital Markets Business Manager, and Sun Kwon-Wishik, Industrials Business Manager, helped design the program with assistance from Futures and Options' Director of Strategic Partnerships, Keleigh Spinner, and Program Coordinator Joanna Munoz. The Wells Fargo and Futures and Options team created an exciting internship experience for the students. The interns each spent time in two different Investment Banking industry groups, participating in conference calls and strategy meetings, as well as conducting background research for current deals. In addition to their work in the investment banking sector, interns attended a series of workshops that included business trainings, guest speakers and professional career development.
Throughout their six weeks, the interns worked on a group project that they presented on the final day of the program. Together they pitched a hypothetical acquisition and created a book of financial statements and analysis documents to support their suggestions. After considering financial data, synergies, and possibilities for growth, the group presented on the potential for Google to purchase Pandora, a free internet radio service. The interns detailed their proposal in front of a large audience of Wells Fargo managers, associates, and analysts, and spent some time after the presentation answering questions from their co-workers and supervisors. Overall the audience was extremely impressed with the interns' hard work.
Futures and Options would like to extend a big Thank You to everyone from Wells Fargo who helped make the program a success. Together Wells Fargo and Futures and Options were able to provide a meaningful and educational experience to New York City youth who hope to one day make a career in the financial sector.
For more information about our Internship Program please contact Rebecca Dougherty or call 212-601-0002.
What does it take to pursue a career in graphic arts? On July 24, 2012, 29 rising seniors from George Westinghouse CTE High School learned just that through a career exploration field trip to Quad/Graphics.
The hosts from Quad gave an overview of the company and then took the students on an interactive tour of the office. They stopped along the way so that team members could demonstrate their work and explain how it fits into the larger process of preparing images for magazines, catalogues, and web-enabled devices.
The students, participants in our George Westinghouse CTE Summer Internship Program who specialize in one of six technical areas as part of their high school education, interned this summer in their tech field. For the four students focusing on Multi-Media Technology, the trip was especially eye-opening. "I would LOVE it. I would love to be in the multi-media field one day," said Ricki Rupine, intern at Publishing Experts, when asked her thoughts after the trip.
Even the students studying other tech areas felt they gained a lot from the experience. They met interesting graphic design professionals, learned to think critically about the images they see every day, and were blown away by the new web-based technologies that are changing the way consumers interact with the images around them.
All of the interns send much thanks to Cindy May, Steve Stoma, and their team at Quad/Graphics for such an engaging day!
If you are interested in partnering with Futures and Options for career exploration, please contact Keleigh Spinner, Director of Strategic Partnerships, at kspinner@futuresandoptions.org or 212-601-0002.
email:csauer@futuresandoptions.org