By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Connor Gantt has known for a while that he wants to pursue a career in the medical field, but a recent internship in the operating room at Rowan Regional Medical Center helped him find what he refers to as his calling.
“This internship really spoke to me in a way, almost telling me I should be an orthopedic surgeon,” the rising Carson High School senior said. “I mean what other type of medicine do you get to use hammers, chisels and drills?”
The internship, which was part of his honors medical science class, gave Gantt a “target.”
“It gave me something to shoot for, something to strive for and a want to help people,” he said.
Gantt told his story to about 70 local business leaders who gathered Thursday to learn more about the benefits of cooperative education.
Officials with the Rowan-Salisbury School System and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College touted the positive impact of such partnerships during a luncheon held at the college.
Roger Withers, the school system’s career and technical education program coordinator, said work-based learning opportunities give students real world experience and allows them to explore their interests and abilities.
He said 90 percent of students who take at least four career and technical education courses stay in school.
“If we get kids into classes where they feel successful, they are going to graduate,” he said. “Those students seem to have a real connection and a need to stay in school because they have hands-on experience and are learning what will make them successful.”
Employers also get the chance to try out and shape potential employees at no cost.
Withers said when students report back, they give teachers an idea about the latest trends in business and industry.
“It is a win, win, win solution that we have going here,” he said. “We want to make sure that our students have an opportunity to be successful and contribute to our community.”
High school students have the opportunity to participate in job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships, Withers said.
Students typically have to complete 135 hours to receive course credit.
Pharmacist Andy Caudill of Best Price Pharmacy in China Grove said from a small business standpoint, high school interns work out great.
“They are eager to learn and want to work,” he said. “They will do whatever you ask of them.”
In return, Caudill said he teaches them everything he knows about the business.
“They see the good, the bad, the ugly. They see me communicate with doctors and take out the trash,” he said. “They get to learn the operation and you get to work with them and mold them in a way.”
Terry Cassell, owner of the nonprofit Peace by Piece, said interns from Rowan-Cabarrus have helped ease her workload.
“It’s just my husband and I, so we where a lot of hats,” she said. “But the interns take a lot of those hats off.”
Cassell said she relied on one intern for help with filing and reorganizing the business part of the operation.
“It’s been a real blessing to me to have her there faithfully three days a week, doing what I’ve asked her to do,” she said.
Dottie Moore, coordinator of cooperative education at Rowan-Cabarrus, said during the past five years 1,277 students have had internships, most of which were unpaid.
Moore said the 160-hour internships equate to 10 hours a week with students receiving one credit hour.
She said businesses can acquire interns simply by emailing a list of tasks that need to be done to dottie.moore@rccc.edu. Moore sifts through resumes to find the best fit and the employers interview candidates to ensure they are right for the job.
Wither said local businesses can also reach out to career development coordinators, which are located at every high school, to be connected with student interns.
Moore said interns can free up employees to do larger, more important tasks and help companies that are on a tight budget with limited staff.
“We want to help you as employees with the economic crisis we are seeing right now,” she said. “But the real benefit is what the student has to add to their resume.”
Moore said the interns are typically hungry to learn.
“They’re like sponges,” she said.
The luncheon was sponsored by the school system, commuting college and the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.
“This event is a project of the Workforce Development Alliance of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce,” Greg Edds, chair of the Chamber, said. “Annually, this committee identifies a project that engages business representatives, educational and work force partners in an activity that promotes collaboration and shared information related to the economic conditions of the community.”
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.
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