Local students and businesses are lauding the local school system’s effort to expand access to career-readiness programs as a three-week “career experience program” comes to a close.
This year, approximately 480 Montgomery County Public Schools students are participating in the three-week Summer RISE program, about 120 more students than last year.
The Summer RISE program is not considered an internship, but allows students to spend three weeks “on the job” gaining “real world experience” in potential career fields, according to program organizers.
At least one student is participating from every high school, MCPS Partnerships Director Elaine Chang-Baxter said. Each was matched with a local business in an industry in which students have expressed an interest in learning more.
Nearly 200 businesses and organizations are hosting students in the Summer RISE program this year.
“We made a really concerted effort this year to ensure our hosts were receiving students who expressed interest in their field, because most are hoping to identify potential talent for their pipeline,” Chang-Baxter said.
Patrice Williams-Johnson, a financial reporter chief for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has participated as a host for the Summer Rise program each of the past three years. She said it exposes students to career possibilities that interest them and creates a more holistic view of life after high school.
“We must prepare and develop the future and we see these Summer RISE participants as our future leaders and visionaries,” Williams-Johnson said.
A closing ceremony for the Summer RISE program will be held Friday at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. The cost of the ceremony is about $45,000, according to school board documents, but Chang-Baxter said sponsors are helping to offset the cost.
The Montgomery County Board of Education allocated $55,000 in its current $2.66 billion budget to expand the Summer RISE program, according to school system documents.
Along with exposing students to possible career opportunities, Chang-Baxter said Summer RISE helps MCPS build new partnerships for other initiatives, like job shadowing and career fairs.
Before Summer RISE started, A Wider Circle allowed students to make an appointment with a stylist who helped them pick out a week’s worth of professional clothing they could take for free and use during the program. A Wider Circle, in Silver Spring, is a nonprofit that aims to eliminate poverty by providing services for low-income families.
MCPS purchased Metro cards for students who needed one to get to their host businesses. The July 1 launch of a countywide initiative allowing students under age 18 to use the county’s Ride On bus system for free helped eliminate barriers some students would have had, Chang-Baxter said.
Grace Zhou, a rising senior at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, is participating in Summer RISE in the MCPS Office of the Chief Academic Officer. Zhou said she hopes to pursue a career as a teacher; learning about the intricacies of education has affirmed her commitment to that path.
Host businesses and organizations often provide a reference letter for students who participate to use in future job applications. Some students do internships at the company later in the year.
“I am learning so much during this three-week program and I have been able to take advantage of teaching and learning opportunities to help see myself as a future teacher,” Zhou said.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
