G-ville takes on PJC interns

Published or Revised February 19, 2005

Thanks to a partnership with the City of Greenville, Paris Junior College – Greenville Center students will be working in city offices this spring. City Manager Karen Daly embraced an internship program suggested by PJC government instructor Ruth Ann Alsobrook, and students at the Greenville Center were invited to apply for the intern position. Following the interview process, Serena Booth, a freshman student from Greenville, was selected for the intern program. She will work 20 hours per week, primarily on special projects assigned by city staff. Her internship will last through May, according to Daly. The application process for the internship also led to another student being hired to fill a part-time position that existed at the city. Gina Roberts, a freshman from Commerce, impressed Daly, and was employed as an office clerk. "We are elated about the partnership with PJC," said Daly. "Having Paris Junior College in Greenville is a great asset, and the Greenville Center provides a wonderful opportunity for our citizens." Alsobrook said the possibility of an intern partnership between the City of Greenville and PJC first came about last fall when Daly spoke to one of her government classes. She contacted Daly in January, and the two of them, along with Greenville Center Director Kerri O'Connor, worked out the plan and sought applications from students attending the Greenville Center. "I am excited about the new cooperative venture with the city," Alsobrook said. "There is a lot of potential for mutual benefit. I hope it works well and the city and the students profit from the program." Booth, a criminal justice major, is married with daughters 11 and 4 years of age. She previously studied law enforcement at McLennan Community College and Odessa College. She is a reserve deputy for the Hunt County Sheriff's Department. She said receiving the internship with the City of Greenville offers a new experience. "This will be a different adventure for me, and I am looking forward to seeing what responsibilities I will have," Booth said. Daly said Booth would probably help on projects involving the city's charter changes, housing projects, and a project involving the library. She will also participate in the Citizen's Academy, a forum designed to help improve communications between citizens and government, as well as foster increased citizen involvement. Roberts, a single mother with five and four-year-old daughters, said she is thankful that the City of Greenville offered her a part-time job as a result of the internship interview process. "I have been looking for a job, and this is just a great opportunity," she said.