King County International Airport (KCIA) is working to expand its internship program this year by reaching out to students with a broader range of educational experiences from high school and GED students to undergraduate and graduate students. For the first time, several airport staff are coordinating the internship program in a comprehensive way, instead of each work group finding their own interns. Eric Miller, Kevin Nuechterlein and Tricia Diamond are working together to coordinate the program, in partnership with the intern supervisors and King County Human Resources.
“We’re taking a more holistic approach,” said Miller, Capital Project Manager.
Miller and Nuechterlein explained that they’re using a cohort model to diversify the internship program. This year, the program will partner with Seattle Central College to host a few students for short-term internships funded by King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) as well as expand the traditional internship program to intentionally recruit students from all levels of education.
The intern coordinators plan to reach out to local schools, colleges, and universities that may not have the resources to publicize these positions. KCIA seeks to expand the program to break down the barriers of entry to future employment. Internships will help students build skills they can use no matter their current education level.
The internship program will include site visits to other businesses on the airfield and other parts of King County. The goal is to expose students to the many professional opportunities at the airport and the county with the hope that it will inspire them and help to build the pipeline of future leaders.
“Airports are things nobody teaches about in high school or college,” Miller said. “We’re focusing on building the interest in airports.”
To further this goal, the interns will have the opportunity to be paired with a professional mentor depending on their career interests.
The first internships will likely be advertised in February or March. Positions could include:
- Engineering
- Airport operations
- Business information management
- Business and marketing
- Customer service/hospitality
If you have any questions about the internship program, or ideas for field trips or mentorship opportunities, contact Tricia Diamond, Eric Miller or Kevin Nuechterlein.
