Education foundation now offering work experience

The Elmbrook Education Foundation is providing more than financial support to district schools.

Offering valuable work experience also is part of the organizational mission.

Brookfield Central High School graduates Kate Bathurst and Melissa Shi - the foundation's first interns - shared part-time responsibilities in managing data records and a variety of other communication functions for the foundation.

Intern search

Now that the two are completing their work, EEF Executive Director Laura Schmidt said, the organization is looking for one or two interns for each or both of the next two semesters.

"Ideally, we would like to have interns who are alums," she said, "but we will consider anyone who is interested in sharpening their office skills."

Schmidt said the internship program idea was sparked by past contact with graduates who indicated they did not have some of the skills necessary to land a job.

"Whether they are just entering college or they are working toward a particular major, they can get valuable experience here," Schmidt said. "They may know a variety of computer programs, but they often don't know the data management systems or programs like Excel that they may need in getting a job."

She also noted that the foundation is looking for those who are majoring in or looking for jobs in public relations, where communications management skills are essential.

Valued experience

Bathurst and Shi said their internship experiences were fruitful.

"I think you get a lot of the social skills along with the technical skills you need," Bathurst said. "It's good to be in an office environment and interact with people you don't usually come into contact with."

With Bathurst taking the morning shift twice a week, Shi covered in the afternoons.

"You really learn how to keep track of and coordinate projects and rely on each other to get them competed," Shi said.

Schmidt said both interns worked well and that she will miss both as they head to start their freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

"They have been really fabulous," she said. "Everything they have done has been documented so the next interns can follow them with a lot of information."

How to apply

To apply for an internship, contact the foundation at

ElmbrookEducationFoundation@

gmail.com.