Summer Internship Teaches Students about Safety & Security

Published July 11, 2014

Four Williamson County students are spending part of their summer learning the ins and outs of the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency and the district's Safety and Security Department. Brentwood High School Juniors Carl Scholl and James Scholl, Page High Senior Michael O'Neill and Ravenwood Senior Colin Shin are participating in the WCS Summer Internship program.

The students spent three weeks working with WCS Safety and Security Director Michael Fletcher and Williamson County Emergency Management Agency Director Mac Purdy. In addition to their work duties, which included organizing items in the county's warehouse, the interns participated in ride-alongs with first responders, visited the 911 dispatch center, completed numerous FEMA emergency preparedness courses and observed School Resource Officers as they took part in training exercises.

“It was interesting to see each SRO react to different scenarios,” said Colin. “It was cool to see who is good at what and who needs more improvement. It was a real eye-opening experience.”

"One of the things I enjoyed the most about this internship was visiting the dispatch center," said James Scholl. "They have Google Earth there, and they know where you are just by using your phone."

According to Fletcher, the internship program is all about helping students prepare for the future as they try to determine a career path.

"This is not about what we get out of them but what we as a county and a community can give to these young men," said Fletcher. "These guys looked at this opportunity and said, 'I'm going to spend part of my summer doing this,' and I think that's admirable. They want to learn and see what we're trying to offer, and so I commend them for it because not a lot of students would want to come do this."