You can’t help but get excited about the first year of Hennessey’s Eagle Works Internship Program when Director Kim (Spencer) Hallmark tells you about it.

Her enthusiasm was in high gear when she made a progress report to the Hennessey Board of Education members during their meeting Monday, Nov. 14.

It got high marks from board President Luke Lough, Vice President Cristopher Choate, Clerk David Tillman, Patrick Griffin and Dr. James Matthew Matousek.

“It was definitely the highlight of the meeting,” said Superintendent Jason Sternberger.

The program was started as an alternative to vo-tech classes since the school district is not a member of a tech school due to high landowner taxes.

How Eagle Works...Works

Seniors are allowed to intern for two class hours a day and juniors for one hour.

Interns are not paid, but at least one works with pay after their school hours, one may be employed for the summer and another is “working on a special project,” Hallmark said.

There are 15 students in the program: nine are seniors, and the six juniors will also be eligible to apply for participation next year. There are 11 onsite interns and three take only virtual courses.

Half of the students have their internship jobs after school, she said.

In addition to matching up students with a business, there are constant changes due to the intern’s schedule coordinating with the plans of the business and the employee in charge of a student.

Six of those students were able to attend the school board meeting and did an excellent job telling board members about their internships, she said.

Student speakers were Raiven Bedford, Julissa Fraire, Leslie Carrillo, Araceli Lopez, Ivan Rivera and Ezri Vaverka.

Rivera “was pulling an engine in a semi,” and another student was finishing an oil change, she said when she went to their worksites to take pictures for her board presentation.

Bedford got to go on a “ride along” with a police officer who was giving speeding tickets; Fraire got to make a spreadsheet and Carrillo designed artwork for a business when other staffers weren’t there.

Also, Vaverka is learning more in her virtual medical terminology sessions (that include spelling tests) as opposed to her friend who takes that class in college.

Partners

Hallmark said partnering with Junior Achievement and eDynamic Learning were a must because of the benefits that membership gives the school, students and businesses.

A big perk is that Junior Achievement offers insurance for the employer, student and school while working onsite and wants to “inspire and prepare young people to succeed” in jobs.

The company also provides curriculum forms, info on preparing students for the workplace, and more, said Hallmark.

She said eDynamic Learning has more than 200 online courses which include the preparation for students before they ever go to their internship site.

Interns are graded through eDynamic.

Before they ever go to their “jobs” they have online “readiness classes” about how they should act as an intern including “how to answer a business phone, or respond to a text or email message properly.” eDynamic also tests for a student’s progress in their virtual classes and some are project based.

Business Recruitment Continues

Businesses also complete “mentor evaluations” on their interns, said Hallmark She is currently recruiting businesses for the second semester, and next year, and may be reached at the school (405-853-4303, ext. 322).

It’s easier than it sounds to match a student with a business, she said.

“Sometimes it’s a trial and error process, but when it works, it’s great,” Hallmark added. When Hallmark called on businesses after she was hired in May, it was easier for her because she knew some of the owners, managers or their grandparents.

That’s because she grew up in Hennessey, is a 1979 HHS grad and taught at HPS from 1987-2004.

Her husband, Wayne, “had also coached some of them here,” Hallmark told the KT&FP.

Students & Businesses

Seniors:

• Julissa Fraire (business information/management), Cindy Evans, Certified Public Accountant.

• Raiven Bedford (criminal justice), Officer Christian Solis, Hennessey Police Department.

• Austin Owens (auto mechanics), Colby Roberts and Landon Harak, R&H Trucks and Autos.

• Araceli Lopez (interior design and architecture), Stacy Cline, Wellness Mercantile.

• Leslie Carrillo (digital design), Terrell Prince, Royal Signs.

• Hunter Hubbard (auto mechanics), Colby Roberts and Landon Harak, R&H Trucks and Autos.

• Jennifer Rea (early childhood education), Taylor Black, Pre-Kindergarten, Hennessey Early Childhood Center, Juniors:

• Brooke Sims (nursing), Registered Nurse Shelley Muzny, School Nurse Hennessey Elementary.

• Ivan Rivera (diesel auto mechanics), Mike Vaverka, Triple M Transportation.

• Michael Pacula (auto mechanics), Jerry Ashcraft or Frank Patton or Mark Snodgrass, Iron Eagle Resources.

• Carlos Granado (welding), Molly Ryel, Energy Meter Systems.

• Andres Velasco (introduction to programming), Todd Cameron, Hennessey Schools Technology Department.

Virtual Students

Seniors: Hannah Gray Thompson (medical assistant introduction).

Ezri Vaverka (medical terminology introduction).

Junior: Victor Sigala (introduction to programming 1A).