FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Joanne Hilty, Lee County Human Resources
              (239) 335-2348

COUNTY INTERNS EXPERIENCE GOVERNMENT FROM THE INSIDE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 31, 2003) - What do 125 students have in common this summer at Lee County Government? If you answered the Lee County Student Internship Program you answered correctly.

The Student Internship Program is designed to expose young people to government careers and nurture young talent for possible future employment. "It really is a great program," says Joanne Hilty, the program's coordinator. "The interns provide immeasurable service to the various departments."

Lee County employees work diligently during the year to recruit and retain outstanding interns for summer employment with the county. The program gives students an opportunity to apply lessons learned from the classroom to the everyday world of public service and administration.

Laura Beth Johnson, a student from Florida State University who interned this summer with Commissioner Bob Janes' office, found out about the internship program from Commissioner Janes during the annual "Cape Coral Day at the Capital" while she was an intern in Senator Burt Saunders' Tallahassee office.

Noelle Anderson, a University of Florida public relations major, was able to garner lots of experience and application as a public relations intern with the Parks and Recreations Department. Anderson learned of the program by searching the Internet, which prompted her to write an email to Parks and Recreation asking if they needed an intern with her experience. Her information was forwarded to a supervisor who was planning on hiring a PR intern for the summer.

Most of the interns started in May and June and will work through August. They work from 20-to-40 hours per week and pay is based on school completed and experience. Parks and Recreation typically employs the most students every summer, followed by the Lee County Library System. The range of jobs the interns performed included: parks and recreation camp counselors, assistance in the offices of Commissioners, drafting news releases, and updating department websites.

The county's internship program was started several years ago and it now boasts several students, like Gino Casanova, who return every year. Gino has interned with Commissioner John Albion's office for several years and returns to his internship during holiday breaks from his studies at Yale University.

The level of leadership and professionalism exhibited by these students continues to impress the departments that employ them and the county is constantly looking for other motivated students to join the ranks. High school and college students interested in participating next year should call Joanne Hilty at 335-2348.

Note to Editors: If your reporters would like to be set-up with interns for a story or news segment, please call Joanne Hilty at 335-2348.