NEW ULM – Student Placement Coordinator Anita Longtin shared how the Student Internship Program has been progressing with the New Ulm School Board.

Longtin said the program had changed a lot since it started in the early 80s. Originally students could take a half-day for work either in the morning or afternoon. In more recent years, the program had been pared back to only being available from 2-3 p.m. This limitation turned out to be a detriment for finding partnerships with businesses.

“We found that for some businesses, two to three is tough,” Longtin said. “At Alllina for example, a lot of things are shutting down by that time which is a bummer. So we opened it back up.”

Junior and senior students are now able to take as many as three school hours to work as part of the internship program. These hours can also be placed anywhere within the school day, and students can work outside of school hours as well.

Longtin said the program has begun to see growth in student and business enrollment numbers. After 22 students enrolled in the first semester, the second semester saw an increase to 33 students. Longtin said this second-semester number has continued to increase over time.

In terms of businesses, Longtin said this number continues to increase as well. Over 40 businesses have collaborated with New Ulm Public Schools thus far for intern experiences, ranging from medical with New Ulm Vet Center and Allina Health to governmental and environmental with the New Ulm Park and Rec Department and Minnesota DNR.

Senior Aiden Gieseke is one of the students who uses three hours, working with Miller-Sellner Implements. He said he has enjoyed being able to work in various departments, such as marketing and sales, to determine what he likes and dislikes about both. He said the most recent department he’s worked in has been a great success.

“Within the last week and a half I switched into the diesel tech program,” Gieseke said. “I enjoyed it extremely. I’ve gone home and I’m just smiling. I get my hands dirty and it’s a great experience.”

Gieseke said he has learned so much from his time in the Student Internship program. He said he has recommended the program to his underclassmen friends, for when they can participate in the program. Miller Sellner has even offered to help Gieseke with his post-secondary schooling, which Longtin said has happened at other internships as well.

Board member Melissa Sundermann voiced her approval of the program, applauding the work experience and training students can apply in the future.

“Now you have a certificate or forklift training or other training,” she said. “You can say ‘I’ve already done this’ so that’s a benefit and a bonus for the next steps. That’s really cool. Even if they don’t get the certificates, they have the experience on their resume.”