Iola High Schools nascent student intern program is getting the attention of Washington, D.C.
Rep. Lynn Jenkins visited the high school Tuesday, as well as Utleys Auto Body and Allen County Regional Hospital to learn more about the schools internship program.
Two IHS students serve as paid interns at Utleys; eight are interns at ACRH.
During the tours, Jenkins visited with a handful of the students about their experiences, and how the teens hope to springboard from their internships either into college or careers.
The hospitals partnership with IHS began last spring, noted Patty McGuffin, director of nursing.
She spoke about several benefits to the program, not the least of which is the way it could stem the brain drain, in which the high schools best and brightest students leave Iola entirely in pursuit of careers elsewhere.
Were losing a lot of our students from the community after graduation, McGuffin said.
By opening up the hospital to interns, it exposes the students to a number of departments the surgery department, blood lab and orthopedic areas were listed as examples that many may not know existed.
Then, if students enjoy their internships, they could be more tempted to return to ACRH when they finish college.
We have a hard time recruiting, McGuffin said. If we can get our students to take more of an interest in what we have out here, its a win-win for everybody.
Jenkins, who is retiring from her seat in January, said she hopes to see Iolas internship program grow, and to serve as a model for other schools.
One of the things, they really need funding, Jenkins said. Hopefully, we can get our grants guy to comb for federal grants they can use.
