Barbara Goleman seniors Kevhani Hicks and Meiby Rivero spent their summers working as interns, but their five weeks soon proved to be worth more than just the valuable experience when they received surprise grants from JPMorgan Chase.
The financial organization funded a $100,000 grant for the internship program managed by Miami-Dade County Public Schools open to students participating in the National Academy Foundation (NAF).
NAF career academy programs include engineering, information technology, finance, hospitality and tourism and health science. The internship program aimed to help students gain experience in their preferred field of work. Additionally interns receive college credit and access to mentoring.
Hicks and Rivero were among the 500 students selected in the internship program to receive a $1,000 grant to be used without stipulation. Hicks already planned to put her share in her student credit union account which is managed by Goleman students within the NAF finance program.
“It's convenient to deposit it in my credit union account since I’m already at school five days out of the week,” said Hicks. “It also gives my classmates the chance to learn how to manage those accounts.”
“It’s a symbiotic relationship,” noted Laura Rodriguez, lead teacher for the NAF Academy of Hospitality and Tourism.
Hicks interned at Miami Dade College's Wolfson Campus as part of the Culinary and Hospitality department, a strategic move to expose herself to the college's layout, student life and administration, as she will be attending college next year.
Rivero interned at a pediatrician's office based in Miami Lakes with Dr. Enrique Canton where she completed a variety of clerical work and worked with children by taking their height and weight. Rivero searched for a pediatric office since she is interested in pursuing pediatric or neonatal medicine.
The JPMorgan Chase grant was set up to supplement the unpaid internships undertaken by all 500 Miami-Dade students.