High school juniors and seniors are getting the opportunity for some real-life experience and a great addition to their résumé by working with Wellington while earning community service hours.
This summer, Wellington is offering students the chance to earn community service hours over nine weeks between June 18 and Aug. 16 as part of Wellington’s High School Summer Service Program.
“Students will be able to earn community service hours for their college careers while learning about local government,” Neighborhood Advocate Chris Degler said. “It’s almost like an internship. It can help to give them an idea before college of what they want to pursue.”
Wellington is accepting applications through Thursday, May 24. Students will be accepted into the program on a rolling basis, meaning early applications will be considered first.
Participating students must be entering their junior or senior year of high school and must have at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) and two letters of recommendation.
Wellington is asking that students commit to volunteering two days each week for eight hours (four hours each day) for nine weeks. Degler said that students with planned vacations shouldn’t be discouraged from applying.
“We will sit down and talk with students in May about their schedules,” he said. “If they already have a scheduled vacation preset, we will work with students.”
Degler said that when students apply, they will be assigned to a department to help with various projects. Though there is no guarantee that they’ll be placed according to their interest, he said that Wellington will try to match students with areas they are interested in.
“There is an area on the application for students to tell us their knowledge and their interests,” he said. “We’ll try to assign them project-based duties based on that.”
Departments and projects may vary, but students will gain invaluable experience and insight into local government through the program.
Additionally, Wellington will be looking to the students for input.
“We want to get ideas from them of how to make Wellington a great hometown and how we can engage other youth in the community,” Degler said. “We want to get our youth involved in the community and give them a way to earn community service hours.”
Applications can be picked up at the Wellington municipal complex (12300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.), Village Park (11700 Pierson Road), the Wellington Community Center (12150 W. Forest Hill Blvd.) and the Safe Neighborhoods Office (1100 Wellington Trace).
For more information, contact Degler at (561) 753-2587 or cdegler@wellingtonfl.gov.
