The 402nd Software Engineering Group has partnered with Houston and Bibb County high schools for a new internship program with the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, through Project Synergy.

 Augustin Dantes Jr., 402nd SWEG technical advisor, said the internship at Project Synergy focuses on STEM education with an emphasis on electrical engineering and computer science.

“This is the inaugural year for high school seniors,” he said. “During the summer, interns spent roughly half their day engaged in technology development activities. The remainder of their day was spent doing hands-on activities and exploring content relevant to intern professional development.”

Dantes said each student must complete a series of tasks to be considered for the engineering internship program.

“We give the schools the criteria and they reached out to their students,” he said. “So, Houston and Bibb County went to their principals to find the best and brightest on the tech path available to them.”

Each student was provided a quick response code to register for the program and submit their application.

“In the application, each student had to show their high school transcripts, grade point average and a resume,” said Dantes. “Also, the students had to have a recommendation from their teacher.”

“We graded the applications and gave interviews to the top scoring applicants,” he said. “The winners of those interviews were selected into the internship program.”

Recent Macon Central High School graduate and SWEG intern Jayania Young said Bibb County schools sent her a flyer for the internship.

“I was told there is a possibility I might not get the internship because I did not have dual enrollment or had advanced placement classes,” she said. “I did not want to let someone’s words discourage me because I met all the other requirements; so I kept on pushing and got the internship.”

Young said the internship is preparing her for the future.

“I feel like this program has given me a great kick-off to my career,” she said. “It’s preparing me for my career after college and it’s also preparing me for college.”

Alex Willis, a Perry High School graduate and SWEG intern said the program has given him a glimpse of how the real world works while still having a bit of a safety.

“My personal big take away are the life skills and the resiliency skills, like learning how to make a resume, or learning how you should manage your time to study,” he said. “I think we are getting a lot more real world experience.”

Young agreed.

“This internship has helped a lot,” she said. “I count the people who run the program as mentors and role models because they have helped to lead us and they have motivated us to do better and be better.”