Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) opens its doors to interns every year, creating unique opportunities for young minds eager to embark on public service careers. This summer, SPU is buzzing with activity from the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), seasonal interns, and year-long interns. According to the City of Seattle, the new cohort is set to make a profound impact on SPU's diverse range of services, from testing water and laying pipes to building infrastructure and tackling climate change.
Five young interns, featured on SPU's web story, each bring a fresh perspective to the organization. Inayat Ali, a junior from the University of Washington (Bothell), working out of the Resource Management Branch, stated in an SPU interview, "I learned about RedEye, GIS, and asset onboarding for drainage and wastewater." Mere footsteps away, in the Water group within CIP Design of Project Engineering and Delivery Branch, Minda Chen, also from the University of Washington, shared how she learned "a lot about the structure of SPU" and the complexities of water main repairs, as stated in the City of Seattle website.
The current lineup of interns includes a diverse range of academic backgrounds and experiences. Mike Ramsay from the Department of Solid Waste wants to learn more about sustainability. “I hope to gain a better understanding of how utilities and services are made accessible to people,” he said, as mentioned by the City of Seattle.
Each intern has plucked a facet of SPU's operations that resonates with their personal and professional journey. Sebastian Raymond, working with the Source Control and Pollution Prevention team, revealed his delight in getting to know the nuances of Seattle's drainage systems. He said, "it has been amazing to understand the processes in place to find solutions to these issues," as per the City of Seattle.
