Purdy School's new internship program provides real life experience
Above, Purdy intern Diana Villa works in the office at Country View Animal Clinic in Monett.
April 5, 2017
Selena Hang
Most students graduate not knowing what they want to do after high school. Purdy has been trying to help change that by introducing Professional Studies, an internship program where students get real life experience.
Purdy began to offer a Professional Studies class for the first time this school year and will continue the program for next year’s upcoming Purdy seniors.
This program has helped many students narrow down their career choices. During the past school year, Purdy seniors have been able to do hands-on tasks that most students in Barry County haven’t had the opportunity to do.
By being a part of this program, seniors who took Professional Studies were able to have internships at businesses around the area to help them see what they really want to do for a career and what to major in once they start college.
Some internship locations include Mercy, of Cassville; Broken Hip Ranch of Exeter; Barry Lawrence County Ambulance District; the Barry County Advertiser; and many others. The students leave school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays around 1 p.m. to have real life learning at their internships.
On Wednesdays, the seniors stay on campus and meet together in Michelle Hilburn’s, director of the Professional Studies program, classroom to keep up-to-date with each other about experiences at internships during the week.
Steven Chancellor, Superintendent of Purdy Schools, said, “About December to January of last year, some members of the Purdy School administration went to a school district up north who were doing something similar. We spent the remainder of last spring working on handbooks and paperwork and getting Mrs. Hilburn on board and then started taking applications.”
Michelle Hilburn, the teacher spearheading the class, graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from MSU and with a Master’s in Secondary Administration from Williams Wood University. She has been teaching at Purdy for the past six years. Dr. Chancellor wanted her to work with the students in the program.
Dr. Chancellor continued, stating, “We were looking for a way to get her more involved. She is a phenomenal teacher, but we felt like she could add a bit more to what we do here at Purdy. It was a natural choice.”
Hilburn sought possible internships with businesses around the area to see if they would be willing to allow students to intern.
Professional Studies will continue to be directed by Michelle Hilburn next year. “It is safe to say it is a permanent program here. We want our students walking away from Purdy to have gained experience,” Dr. Chancellor assured.
Hilburn agreed, “I see the program expanding. Colleges are looking for something different beyond a GPA and class rank. We need to prepare our students to walk into colleges with experience already, because the traditional high school doesn’t offer them. We need to close that gap between what they’re looking for and what we’re offering.”
Some students in the program are already being offered opportunities after graduation. Students are already receiving job offers and to help them during their first few semesters of college.
Entering the program, the students must inform Hilburn of what career field they are interested in so that she can find a business in the area that has something similar.
Students are interning at veterinary vet clinics, hospitals, newspapers and more. The internship locations for students are spread all over Barry County.
Most students joined the Professional Studies program knowing what they wanted to do after graduation. Though a few students have changed their minds, they have at least realized that their previous career choice was not meant for them.
The Professional Studies program has helped students decide what career is really meant for them.
One of the internship site supervisors, Charlea Estes of the Barry County Advertiser, said, “Purdy approached me with a student who was interested in journalism, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to allow her to see if the field is something she was genuinely interested in. It was a good growing experience for Selena to see where her strengths and weaknesses were and see newspapers work in real life. I hope to have interns join me again in future classes.”
Makayla Brown, senior at Purdy High School, interned with Glenn Scott and Kolton Hutchinson at Broken Hip Ranch in Exeter, a branch of Mareth Enterprises. “I got to experience all aspects of running a cow operation. I chose this program because I wanted as much experience going into my own cow operation as I could get.”
Brown continued and says, “Professional Studies is a recommended opportunity. Students are able to gain experience, knowledge and more that you cannot learn or teach in a classroom.”
A couple of students were given the chance to help save lives of humans and animals, like Ricky Aldaba and Diana Villa.
Diana Villa had a strong interest in veterinary science and now interns at County View Animal Clinic in Monett to further her interest. Villa said, “I am blessed to be able to do a bit of everything such as answering phone calls, cleaning exam tables, weighing animals and much more. Though most of the time I am observing, I still am glad that I get this opportunity, unlike most seniors around the area, and also wish other schools could give this chance to their upcoming seniors so they know if they are going into the right field or not.”
At Barry Lawrence County Ambulance District in Monett, Ricky Aldaba helps assist EMTs and paramedics while they respond on calls. Aldaba says, “I knew choosing this program was a great decision because I get the chance to help save lives and help others out on their worst days, which is something I love to do.”
Internship student Selena Hang stated, “As one of the very few Purdy seniors who were able to get into the program, I believe that this program has made an impact on my life. The program has taught me how to manage my school schedule with work and also taught me how to gain from failure.”
Senior members of the program agreed that the Professional Studies program was an eye-opening experience and are grateful to all staff members who made the program possible.
Selena Hang
Most students graduate not knowing what they want to do after high school. Purdy has been trying to help change that by introducing Professional Studies, an internship program where students get real life experience.
Purdy began to offer a Professional Studies class for the first time this school year and will continue the program for next year’s upcoming Purdy seniors.
This program has helped many students narrow down their career choices. During the past school year, Purdy seniors have been able to do hands-on tasks that most students in Barry County haven’t had the opportunity to do.
By being a part of this program, seniors who took Professional Studies were able to have internships at businesses around the area to help them see what they really want to do for a career and what to major in once they start college.
Some internship locations include Mercy, of Cassville; Broken Hip Ranch of Exeter; Barry Lawrence County Ambulance District; the Barry County Advertiser; and many others. The students leave school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays around 1 p.m. to have real life learning at their internships.
On Wednesdays, the seniors stay on campus and meet together in Michelle Hilburn’s, director of the Professional Studies program, classroom to keep up-to-date with each other about experiences at internships during the week.
Steven Chancellor, Superintendent of Purdy Schools, said, “About December to January of last year, some members of the Purdy School administration went to a school district up north who were doing something similar. We spent the remainder of last spring working on handbooks and paperwork and getting Mrs. Hilburn on board and then started taking applications.”
Michelle Hilburn, the teacher spearheading the class, graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from MSU and with a Master’s in Secondary Administration from Williams Wood University. She has been teaching at Purdy for the past six years. Dr. Chancellor wanted her to work with the students in the program.
Dr. Chancellor continued, stating, “We were looking for a way to get her more involved. She is a phenomenal teacher, but we felt like she could add a bit more to what we do here at Purdy. It was a natural choice.”
Hilburn sought possible internships with businesses around the area to see if they would be willing to allow students to intern.
Professional Studies will continue to be directed by Michelle Hilburn next year. “It is safe to say it is a permanent program here. We want our students walking away from Purdy to have gained experience,” Dr. Chancellor assured.
Hilburn agreed, “I see the program expanding. Colleges are looking for something different beyond a GPA and class rank. We need to prepare our students to walk into colleges with experience already, because the traditional high school doesn’t offer them. We need to close that gap between what they’re looking for and what we’re offering.”
Some students in the program are already being offered opportunities after graduation. Students are already receiving job offers and to help them during their first few semesters of college.
Entering the program, the students must inform Hilburn of what career field they are interested in so that she can find a business in the area that has something similar.
Students are interning at veterinary vet clinics, hospitals, newspapers and more. The internship locations for students are spread all over Barry County.
Most students joined the Professional Studies program knowing what they wanted to do after graduation. Though a few students have changed their minds, they have at least realized that their previous career choice was not meant for them.
The Professional Studies program has helped students decide what career is really meant for them.
One of the internship site supervisors, Charlea Estes of the Barry County Advertiser, said, “Purdy approached me with a student who was interested in journalism, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to allow her to see if the field is something she was genuinely interested in. It was a good growing experience for Selena to see where her strengths and weaknesses were and see newspapers work in real life. I hope to have interns join me again in future classes.”
Makayla Brown, senior at Purdy High School, interned with Glenn Scott and Kolton Hutchinson at Broken Hip Ranch in Exeter, a branch of Mareth Enterprises. “I got to experience all aspects of running a cow operation. I chose this program because I wanted as much experience going into my own cow operation as I could get.”
Brown continued and says, “Professional Studies is a recommended opportunity. Students are able to gain experience, knowledge and more that you cannot learn or teach in a classroom.”
A couple of students were given the chance to help save lives of humans and animals, like Ricky Aldaba and Diana Villa.
Diana Villa had a strong interest in veterinary science and now interns at County View Animal Clinic in Monett to further her interest. Villa said, “I am blessed to be able to do a bit of everything such as answering phone calls, cleaning exam tables, weighing animals and much more. Though most of the time I am observing, I still am glad that I get this opportunity, unlike most seniors around the area, and also wish other schools could give this chance to their upcoming seniors so they know if they are going into the right field or not.”
At Barry Lawrence County Ambulance District in Monett, Ricky Aldaba helps assist EMTs and paramedics while they respond on calls. Aldaba says, “I knew choosing this program was a great decision because I get the chance to help save lives and help others out on their worst days, which is something I love to do.”
Internship student Selena Hang stated, “As one of the very few Purdy seniors who were able to get into the program, I believe that this program has made an impact on my life. The program has taught me how to manage my school schedule with work and also taught me how to gain from failure.”
Senior members of the program agreed that the Professional Studies program was an eye-opening experience and are grateful to all staff members who made the program possible.