Date: Fri 09-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Cable-interns-school

Full Text:

with cut: Interns At The Cable Company

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Newtown-based Charter Communications has taken on two Newtown High School

students as interns this summer, making it the area's first cable company to

provide employment and training in a "student-to-work" program.

According to Charter's Personnel Director Sheila Huerta, NHS students Adam

Peck and Rachel Walker were chosen through the high school's school-to-work

networking program. The NHS/cable company alliance was facilitated by Mrs

Huerta and NHS school-to-career facilitator Tom Swetts.

Though the students just recently started at Charter, Mrs Huerta said it has

already developed into a win-win relationship.

"This is working out well for both Adam and Rachel, and for Charter

Communications," she noted.

Adam, a senior aspiring to become an engineer, is working in Charter's

drafting and design department, assisting in keeping the department organized,

as the department is in a growing stage. Much to the cable company's

advantage, Adam has drafting skills.

Rachel, a junior, is working in Charter's marketing department, which

encompasses customer sales, video production and advertising. Rachel is

learning standard office skills, including word processing, filing and use of

the copier and fax machine. She is also assisting in the preparation of

schedules for Charter Community Channel 21, learning to evaluate video promos,

and helping to manage the flow of paperwork in sales and marketing. As a

special project, Rachel is tabulating ballots returned to Charter customers

who are voting for five new channels to be added to the channel lineup in late

August.

As for gaining such valuable experience, neither student anticipated an

opportunity like this.

"I really didn't expect to get this kind of engineering experience while I was

in high school," Adam admitted.

The students said they weren't expecting to get paid, but were pleasantly

surprised to find out they'd make minimum wage as interns.

"This way they can feel their worth," Mrs Huerta explained.

Charter will fill out reports on the students' progress in the hopes that

their work will be measured in the school environment, enabling them to earn

credit.

Mrs Huerta, who credited Gene Knoblauch, Charter Communication's senior vice

president of operation in the New England Region, said Charter is committed to

building strong community and business alliances.