Purpose Driven Work: Utilizing the motivation behind the new workforce to build a successful internship program

The intern program at South Platte Renew was formalized in 2019 to highlight the work of professional engineers in the water/wastewater field. Over the last four years, the program has evolved into a comprehensive experience for junior to senior level university and college engineering students to showcase the diverse engineering and problem-solving opportunities available within a professional setting. Experiences range from construction inspection, design and planning, budgeting, technical and process optimization, lab work, and piloting treatment technologies. In providing several resources and contacts, students can explore different facets of the wastewater field and experience the unique offerings from a public entity. Along with classic engineering technical skills, interns are shown the political drivers and challenges that must be considered when working as a government agency. Students are also given the opportunity to grow their professional networks, complete vital trainings, and build resumes with applicable experience. The main goal of the SPR Intern Program is to engage young engineers in the diverse work of wastewater in hopes to inspire them to join the workforce in the public sector. This presentation highlights the efforts and methods by SPR to build and maintain an intern program and how others can benefit from a university-to-organization pipeline. The framework and planning documents can be customized for the 3-month internship based on the organization's needs and focuses for that year.