• By Todd Luck
• Posted Thursday, August 4, 2022

Cooperative Extension celebrates ASPIRE Interns

ASPIRE interns were celebrated on their last day at N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Forsyth County Center after a robust internship that let them work with the Extension’s many different educational programs.

During the last two months, the interns assisted with livestock events, 4-H camps, workshops, demonstration gardens, the Tanglewood Arboretum and office work. This is a busy time for the many educational workshops the Extension holds, so the staff grateful for the extra help.

“We were able to benefit from them being here to help with programs, and they got to experience all kinds of programs and participate in all areas of what we do,” said Cooperative Extension Director Kim Gressley.

The interns helped prepare food for a Hawaiian-themed luncheon that was held in their honor on August 3, which was attended by representatives of Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Government and Greater Winston-Salem Inc.

The Extension’s four interns where:

Ayub Hussein – a graduate of Reynolds High who will attend Forsyth Tech to study Computer Science this fall

Almarie Williams- a rising junior at WS Prep who wants to study Psychology

Jose Cruz-Estrad- a rising senior at Parkland Magnet who wants to be a nurse

Cha'Nijah Carter- a rising junior at Reynolds High who hopes to become a physician (and who was unable to attend the luncheon)

ASPIRE WS is a paid internship program for juniors and seniors in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County schools, coordinated and managed by Greater Winston-Salem Inc., that provides opportunities for students to gain job skills and explore career choices.

Students are required to successfully complete an Employability Workshop sponsored by Forsyth Tech and are then placed with host companies for a minimum of 80 hours. ASPIRE WS operates year-round offering summer, fall, and spring terms. Interns are guaranteed a $10 an hour wage.

To view additional photos from the luncheon, click here.