High school students from across Mount Diablo Unified School District, including Northgate High in Walnut Creek, spent their summer earning college credit and working alongside local employers through the district's 11-year-old internship program.
The program placed 117 student interns with 42 host employers this summer, according to a district news release published Thursday, July 23. Students who completed required assignments earned two college credits through Diablo Valley College.
Interns came from every high school in the district, Anna Ramos, MDUSD's manager of youth development and support services, said at a celebration held Friday, July 24, at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord.
Heather Fontanilla, director of college and career readiness, told attendees she views the program as built on strong partnerships with employer hosts developed over more than a decade.
Program's 11-year growth
The internship launched 11 years ago with a small group of students and employers. It is administered jointly by MDUSD's College & Career Readiness and Expanded Learning departments and includes workshops and field trips focused on post-graduation options.
Host employers this summer ranged from private businesses to nonprofits to district departments. Named hosts included the Community Youth Center, Ambrose Recreation & Park District, Monument Crisis Center, Contra Costa County Health, Save Mount Diablo, the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Concord. District departments such as Transportation, Maintenance & Operations, Food & Nutrition Services, and Technology & Information also took on interns.
Four organizations hosted interns for the first time: Elegance Party Rentals, JRM Equipment, Contra Costa Water District, and the Contra Costa & Solano Family Justice Center.
Students on the job
Alexandra Montes Romero, a Mt. Diablo High School student, interned at first-time host JRM Equipment, where she worked with construction equipment including an excavator, backhoe, and other Caterpillar machinery.
"They were eager to help me and I really think I like working with heavy machinery and tools," Montes Romero said at the July 24 celebration.
Fellow Mt. Diablo High School student Enedina Narvaez interned at East Bay CPR, a business run by teacher Dr. David Pintado, and said she hopes to pursue a career in the medical field.
A separate four-week Bay Point Garden internship at Riverview Middle School enrolled 17 students in outdoor projects including gardening, mural painting, and arts and crafts.
The program focuses on building skills such as communication, collaboration, punctuality, and professional conduct. Fontanilla told students at the July 24 event that those are skills they will carry into any future job.
What's next for families
The next summer internship session is scheduled for summer 2027. The new MDUSD school year begins Thursday, August 6.
Families interested in the district's college and career readiness programs can visit mdusd.org/departments/educational-services/college-career.
