 "Illinois EPA is a proud partner of educational programs that
provide students with a 'hands-on' learning opportunity though
agency mentoring and real-world business experience," Bonnett said.
"Continuation of these programs goes hand in hand with Gov. Quinn's
commitment to education, as evident in his five-year plan proposed
last month, which will double the investment of college scholarships
for students in need. Students often go on to environmental careers
where they can use the knowledge and experience they have gained
through these internships."At the annual Intern Recognition
Breakfast on April 16 at UIS, Rance Carpenter, director of the UIS
Graduate Public Service Internship program, presented the Illinois
EPA with a plaque and stated: "I am thrilled to present this plaque
to honor and commemorate the 40-year partnership between SSU/UIS and
the Illinois EPA. The GPSI staff members extend our thanks and
gratitude to the Illinois EPA for providing the opportunity for
hundreds of SSU and UIS graduate students to experience leadership
lived."
The GPSI program is a partnership between the University of
Illinois at Springfield and state and local government agencies,
where highly qualified graduate-level students work within the
agencies while earning a graduate degree from the university.
Illinois EPA has had the longest partnership among agencies,
participating since the program's inception.
Over the 40 years of the program, the Illinois EPA has provided
the opportunity for hundreds of graduate students to work side by
side with agency employees to experience public service firsthand.
Currently, 32 GPSI students are working at the Illinois EPA. In
addition to that program, the agency will welcome approximately 36
college and university students as part of the Governor's
Environmental Corps and Pollution Prevention & Energy Efficiency
Internship programs this summer.
The Governor's Environmental Corps, first established in 1991,
will begin its 23rd year in June. This program offers a unique
public-private partnership between state government and Illinois
corporations, whose sponsorship contributions pay the salaries and
expenses of the participating students. The nine-week GEC program
will run from June 2 to Aug. 1 and will include approximately 20
student positions statewide. Students are paired with agency mentors
in their area of environmental interest and will work in Illinois
EPA's Springfield and regional offices.
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Students in the Governor's Environmental Corps are full-time college
undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in fields such
as engineering, geology, chemistry, biology, communications and law.
GEC interns also participate in field trips and workshops at
sponsoring company facilities, designed to provide firsthand
knowledge of environmental challenges and solutions, as well as
career opportunities in environmental fields.
The Illinois Pollution Prevention Internship, P2, which began in
1989, has grown through the years and will include 14 upper-level
university students in its 25th year. Contrasting the GPSI and GEC
programs, P2 interns are placed at manufacturing, local government
and other facilities throughout the state. The goal of the program
is to help facilities find cost-effective approaches for reducing
environmental impacts, while providing students with a practical
work experience. Facilities use college engineering interns
specially trained by the agency to address waste reduction, process
improvement, recycling and energy efficiency.
The 12-week program will begin on May 19 with a weeklong training
class at the Illinois EPA headquarters. Students will report to
their host facilities on May 27 for the remaining 11 weeks. Half of
this year's P2 intern class will focus on assisting facilities with
their goal of creating zero waste. Student salaries are paid in part
by the agency and through cost-sharing arrangements with
participating facilities.
Students for the 2014 P2 program were recruited from several
Illinois universities. Facilities participating in the program this
year are Eaton Cooper B-Line, Troy; Komatsu, Peoria; Mueller Co.,
Decatur; Aisin Manufacturing, Marion; Carlisle SynTec, Greenville;
Ahlstrom Engine Filtration, Taylorville; Case New Holland, Goodfield;
Pinnacle Foods, St. Elmo; Mexichem, Henry; University of Illinois,
Champaign; Prairie State College, Chicago Heights; Moraine Valley
Community College, Palos Hills; Illinois Green Economy
Network/College of Lake County, Grayslake; and Illinois National
Guard, Springfield.
___
UIS Graduate Public Service Internship
Governor's
Environmental Corps
Pollution
Prevention & Energy Efficiency Internship
[Text from
Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency
file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
