January 7, 2010

SOMERSET STUDENT AWARDED GREEN INTERNSHIP

  Somerset County vocational student Thomas Federici (left) is recognized by Freeholder Rick Fontana for having been awarded the NJAC-WalMart Green Internship

     Thomas Federici, a senior student in the Electrical Construction Program at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School, was selected recently to participate in the NJAC-WalMart Green Internship Program.  He is one of several students across the state to have been accepted this year into the ground-breaking program.

     "This is one of the most innovative educational programs in the state and we are very pleased by the excitement that we're seeing in the students who want to participate," said NJAC Executive Director Celeste Carpiano.

     Under the program, run by the NJAC Foundation and funded by WalMart, students take part in a structured learning experience in which they work with county officials on projects to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.  All of the state's 21 counties are embarked on aggressive "green" projects and students in the program could find themselves helping on land use planning, wind and solar projects, trash-to-energy systems, energy-efficient climate control systems, alternative fuel vehicles, green design and more.

     "The real value of the program is that it helps to prepare young people for careers in the green economy and it creates a pool of potential employees for counties that need well-trained personnel in these areas," said Carpiano.

     Federici will spend at least 100 hours in mentoring and self-directed green activities initiated by organizations in Somerset County.

     He will interact with professionals and document his observations in a log that he will share with his fellow classmates and members of the Somerset Board of Chosen Freeholders.  He will receive a stipend from the NJAC Foundation after he completes the internship.

     "We are very pleased to have Thomas represent Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School in the NJAC-WalMart Green Internship Program.  The ability to gain workplace readiness skills and learn cutting-edge technologies while in high school are two of the great advantages in attending career/technical school," said Michael Herrera, Director of Career and Technical Education at Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools.

     Participating in the program in Somerset will be:  M&E Engineers, SSP Architects, MacCali Energy Conservation & Building Management, Somerset County Energy Council, Duke Farms, Somerset County Recycling Program, Somerset County Traffic Synchronization Project, Somerset County Lighting Upgrade Program and Leadership Somerset.

     For more information about the NJAC-WalMart Green Internship Program, log onto the NJAC website at www.njac.org.

Save the dates now for the Annual NJAC Conference, June 15 through June 18. 

For more information on the New Jersey Association of Counties, visit the NJAC website at www.njac.org, or call the office at 609-394-3467.