By Lindley Lund
USD 475
FORT RILEY, Kan. – For the first time in the 20-year history of Junction City High School’s (JCHS) internship program, students are receiving the opportunity to intern on a United States Army Installation Fort Riley.
What began as a mutual interest among Geary County Schools Board of Education and Fort Riley Garrison Command has now grown to partnerships across Fort Riley, both at the Irwin Army Community Hospital and the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office. The four participating students are first-hand experiencing what it is like to work on a United States Army installation.
“Our students are the future of our work world; this opportunity benefits the students by giving them prior experience in a field before continuing with their career path post-high school to help them make decisions about a career,” JCHS CTE Administrator Becky Coy said.
The three students interning at Irwin Army Community Hospital rotate through different departments within the hospital, such as Radiology, Physical/Occupational Therapy, Surgery, Radiology, Family Practice, and Anesthesia. At the Fort Riley Public Affairs Office, the student intern has learned the many different media types, aiding the department in creating and publishing news stories on subjects happening across the installation.
“We are hoping to grow the opportunities for students while partnering with different careers on the base,” Coy said.