During the 2022-2023 school year, nearly 30 area businesses and organizations gave Plymouth Whitemarsh High School seniors a chance to experience careers through the PWHS Internship Program. The students explored a variety of businesses and industries — from marketing to HVAC to the management of a horse stable.
Local professionals can learn about participating in the program for the next school year here.
“[Intern Jenna Kohler] has ridden with the Northwestern Stables forever, but she’s only seen the organization from a rider’s perspective, so she got to see it from a management perspective and some of the other things that make it work,” said Jean Bochnowski, executive director of Northwestern Stables. “She was fabulous. It was a great experience for her, but it was also wonderful for us.”
The school’s internship program combines classroom instruction with real-world experience at a business. Students must create a resume and develop other skills in class and then spend at least six hours each week with a mentor, getting a chance to explore a career path that interests them.
“My internship was very impactful,” said Katie Parris who worked with the Colonial School District Community Relations Department and is going to American University. “I learned a lot. I decided to minor in communications because of it, so that really helped me out.”
PWHS senior Destiny Johnson interned with a physical therapist and PWHS alum Dr. Tyler Sauder at Ivy Rehab in Conshohocken. Johnson, who plans to pursue nursing, utilized the opportunity to work with patients and get a better understanding of the healthcare field. Johnson and Dr. Tyler are pictured at the top of the article.
“I learned a lot about good exercises for people after surgeries or injuries, and I also learned more about body parts, such as the knee and the shoulder, and ways of breathing,” said Johnson who’ll be heading to Penn State in the fall. “I was doubting going into nursing, but Tyler really inspired me to push through with my thoughts and do it as a career.”
“It’s something I wish I had when I was here, because I had no idea what I wanted to do,” said Real Estate Agent and PWHS alum Kelly Eason Corda who hosted an intern at Realty ONE Group Restore. “What a great program to get these kids out into the world and get a feel for what’s going on. I really enjoyed it.”
Businesses that participated in the program included:
- 1847 Financial, Gina Iovanisci
- beMarketing, Jordyn Slocum
- Colonial Elementary School, Alisa Moyer
- Colonial Elementary School, Michael Wimmer
- Colonial School District Community Relations Department, Kim Newell
- Colonial School District Food Services Department, Lori McCoy
- Crosscountry Mortgage LLC, Jeff Giglio
- Dreamer’s Daughter, Nancy Labricciosa
- Excel Physical Therapy, Dr. Ian Dzienisiewski
- GenVest Strategies, Tom Robbins
- Germantown Academy, Dan Houston
- GKO Associates, Macy Regner
- Home Experts for You,Matt Donnelly
- Inference Inc., Lisa Hickey
- Inside Out Home Solutions, Shantih Brando
- Ivy Rehab, Dr. Tyler Sauder
- Liberty Vet Clinic, Josie Baxt
- The Lincoln Center, Julie Knudson
- Mindset, Dr. April Perrymore
- Montgomery County Court of Pleas, Melissa Sterling, Judge
- Northwestern Stables, Jean Bochnowski
- Pennoni Engineering, Megan Clayton
- Realty One, Corda Real Estate, LLC, Kelly Eason Corda
- Ridge Park Elementary School, Lori McTamney
- Ritchie Brothers, Shelly Scameheorn
- Sunnybrook Golf Club, William Garbacz
- TJ Billing, Adeline West
Photos: Colonial School District