Four local University of Texas college students received the opportunity to experience the working world firsthand this summer as they participated in the Home to Texas program.
The program is funded through UT’s IC2 Institute, which assists communities with economic development initiatives. It’s an initiative that returns undergraduates to their hometowns with summer internships and experiences aimed to help them understand the underlying values of their home communities.
For the third consecutive year, Kendall County’s was selected to be a part of the program. The students receive college credit and a stipend for participating.
“Kendall County’s participation in the IC2’s Home to Texas program has been extremely important in our efforts to retain the young talent that comes from our exemplary public schools,” Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Amy Story told The Star. “The program gives Kendall County students attending the University of Texas at Austin the opportunity to see firsthand via these internships the opportunities that exist for strong careers in their hometown.”
The students receive a $5,000 stipend through their internship.
“This partnership with The Home to Texas program is a significant tool in our talent retention efforts,” Story said.
The interns
This summer’s interns were Paulina Pearson, who worked at Bandera Electric Cooperative; Juliette Wyatt, Prytime Medical Devices; Stephen Shaw, Schneider Engineering; and Elijah Marshall, Westward Environmental. A reception recognizing the students and their summer employers took place Thursday evening at The Bevy Hotel.
The students briefly spoke about their experiences at their place of employment, and all of them said it was a great opportunity and they learned much during their time there. They also thanked their work sponsors.
“I got to be in a true professional environment and learn about the business,” Marshall said about Westward Environmental. “I learned a lot.”
“It’s been a really great summer,” Wyatt said of Prytime Medical Devices. “I learned so much. I’m looking forward to taking it all back with me.”
“I really enjoyed it,” Pearson said of BEC. “I gained some really good experience.”
“I learned to become more comfortable in situations like this,” Shaw said of Schneider Engineering. “I’ve become a more well-rounded individual. It helped me grow.”
The work sponsors for each intern had high praise for their student, and all were complimentary and thankful for the opportunity to participate in the program and employ the interns over the summer. Kendall County Commissioner Richard Chapman and Boerne City Manager Ben Thatcher also briefly spoke.
The program
The BKCEDC partnered with UT through the program in an effort to grow the city’s waning population of young professionals, Story has said.
“The whole purpose is to expose UT students to career opportunities in their home towns,” she said.
Story has said the BKCEDC was interested in participating in the program because it addresses workforce issues that small towns like Boerne face when they lose younger workers to bigger cities. She said many times these young professionals don’t see opportunity in the towns they grew up in.
“We need to attract and maintain a workforce that’s ready and trained for the jobs we want to attract in our community,” Story said.
The IC2 Institute partners with UT Austin School of Undergraduate Studies and Texas Career Engagement for the program, matching undergraduate students from all majors with employers in their hometowns who are seeking students with fresh and informed perspectives.
During their experience, the students enroll in a summer online course that requires local community research and analysis. Students interview members of their communities, distribute surveys and prepare reports on the challenges and opportunities they discover.
Story has called IC2 “a “think tank that assists rural communities with economic development strategies and programs.”
“Participating students develop A greater appreciation of their hometown communities, increasing the chance they will consider returning after graduation,” the information reads. “The program demonstrates the growing commitment of UT-Austin to engage with the entire state of Texas, solidifying UT’s relationship with alumni and regional and state leaders.
Dozens of UT students have participated in the program. They work in a variety of fields, not limited to their academic majors.
So far, 18 communities have participated in the program, information stated.
“Participation allows for local companies to provide work placements that are challenging for and interesting to UT Austin students,” the information stated. “Internships that include mentoring and opportunities to learn about the organization’s mission and vision and interact with a variety of employees are favored.”
The stipends come from community donations and the University of Texas to ensure students are well-paid for their work and research.
Story said the BKCEDC is trying to attract tech companies and other industries with high-paying jobs.
“We’re losing that pipeline of young talent,” she said. “We’ve got to figure out, how do we make Boerne attractive to these people?”
Story said the attractiveness of Boerne to young professionals and lucrative industries is part of a bigger picture that includes attractive and affordable housing options and a good quality of life. The idea is to get some of that young talent straight out of college.
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