Summer Business Institute looking for student interns

Deadline to apply for this year's program is Feb. 19

This summer, Clark County will be offering job opportunities to young people in coordination with its annual Summer Business Institute, but don't wait to apply -- the deadline is Feb. 19.

The summer job program, now in its 14th year, is open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Employment opportunities will be available to selected candidates in areas including law, medicine, architecture, education and communications.

Chantal Jones, 20, participated in the institute the past four summers. At 16, it was time for Jones to look for a summer job before she began her junior year at the Las Vegas Academy, 315 S. 7th St.

Jones' grandfather saw a newspaper article about the Summer Business Institute and thought it would be a good fit for her. After applying, Jones was placed in a job at the Clark County Government Center in the Office of Diversity as an office assistant.

"I loved it," she said.

While working for Clark County, Jones filed, completed data entry and learned office skills. She worked from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Each Friday, she met with the other institute participants at UNLV, where they completed workshops in financial literacy, life skills and civic engagement.

Now attending Arizona State University as an art major, Jones is thankful for her experience in conjunction with the institute.

"I highly recommend SBI," Jones said. "While there, you're doing things you enjoy."

On the application, candidates are asked to indicate their top three areas in which they would like to work. Jones said it seemed as if every effort was made to place her in government, which was her top choice.

Students will have a variety of job fields to choose from, depending on the involvement of private businesses and government entities in the program. Thus far, opportunities are available at businesses including Cox Communications, the city of North Las Vegas, University Medical Center and the Clark County School District.

"They are opportunities that we believe would be conducive to a young person," Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said.

Weekly also said the county always is looking for more partners who can employ youths through the institute program.

County staff will select 150 Clark County high school students who will be juniors, seniors or college freshmen by the fall of 2010 to participate in the program, which runs from mid-June through mid-August, based on grade-point average, volunteer activities, letters of recommendation and school involvement.

Weekly said a mix of students from all walks of life will be selected.

"They find out they're not as different as they think they are," Weekly said.

Participants will be paid $8 an hour to work eight-hour days Monday through Thursday and learn about money management, life skills and civic engagement through regular seminars.

The commissioner explained that students who are accepted into the job program gain valuable life skills that include learning good interview techniques and professional behavior. Also, the program can enhance a student's resume and help make him or her more competitive in the job market.

During the weekly workshops, students will be asked to get involved in a community service project in an effort to teach the young people the concept of "leave your neighborhood better than you found it," Weekly said.

Adults who facilitate the workshops also act as mentors.

"Especially for those who are a little more reserved, those mentors have turned out to be really helpful," Weekly said.

Additionally, some participants will be eligible for college scholarships at the close of the program. Weekly said some employers choose to give scholarships to employees and others may receive one from Clark County.

For more information, call Kaveida Williams at 455-2426 or 455-4565.

Contact View education reporter Laura Emerson at lemerson@viewnews.com or 380-4588.

find out How to apply

Program applications are available at www.accessclarkcounty.com under "New to the Web Site"; in the County Office of Human Resources on the third floor of the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway; at KCEP radio station, 330 W. Washington Ave.; and at local high school job banks.

For information, call Kaveida Williams at 455-2426 or 455-4565.