Internships & Extension Programs

Position Overview: Quaker Valley High School is seeking a motivated and creative student to serve as a Photography Intern for the 2024-2025 school year. The intern will be responsible for capturing high-quality photos at various student events, organizing and uploading these images to be used by the Quaker Valley High School Yearbook and Communications Department. This internship offers hand-son experience in photography, event coverage, and digital media management. Interns will gain valuable skills while contributing to school publications and promotional materials. This internship is a unique opportunity for students interested in photography, journalism, and media to gain hands-on experience while contributing to the school community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Attend and photograph a minimum of a pre-determined number of student events per trimester (e.g., sports, performances, clubs, school activities).
• Capture a diverse range of high-quality images, focusing on student participation, action shots, and event atmosphere.
• Edit and organize photos, ensuring proper formatting and quality for publication.
• Upload photos to the designated platforms (Google Drive, school database, etc.) within 24-48 hours of each event for use by the Yearbook and Communications Department.
• Collaborate with the Yearbook and Communications teams to meet specific photo requirements.

Additional Opportunities:

• Equipment: Interns can borrow a District-owned camera if needed.
• Experiential Learning Credit: Hours spent on designated online photography courses may be counted toward internship hours with prior approval.
• Professional Development: The position will provide opportunities to develop photography skills, gain experience with digital media, and build a portfolio of work.

Requirements:

• Current Quaker Valley High School student in good academic standing
• Passion for photography and willingness to learn and improve skills
• Ability to attend school events outside of regular school hours
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Basic knowledge of photo editing software or a willingness to learn
• Ability to meet deadlines and manage time effectively

Commitment:

• Intern must commit to attending a predetermined number of events per trimester (specific number based on scheduling and availability).
• Flexibility in managing event attendance and photography workload.

To Apply: Submit a brief statement of interest and sample photography work (if available) to the Yearbook (Mrs. Strelec – [email protected]) and Communications Department (Mrs. Dietz – [email protected]).

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in video production. The Video Production Intern is responsible for assisting the Quaker Valley School District Communications Department in creating a visual representation of what is going on throughout the district using video (both short and longer form). This internship could be used for credit toward your Experiential Learning graduation requirement.  Responsibilities: Assist the Director of Communications in capturing and editing content that portrays events across the District. Responsible for the safe transfer and storage of all footage.  Operate and maintain production equipment.  Ensure equipment is charged and properly stored.  Work closely with staff and students to execute concepts through to completion.  Maintain accurate records, logs, and transcribe production activities.  In addition to the core responsibilities of the position, interns may be asked, or may seek to engage unique abilities, strengths, and passions through participation on cross-functional teams.  Email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if you are interested in this opportunity.

Are you a high school student interested in local government? The Borough of Leetsdale announces the creation of the Junior Council Person (JCP) position. This program, supported by the PA State Association of Boroughs, allows students the opportunity to learn critical skills including team building and collaboration, public speaking, public engagement, budgeting, and running effective meetings. It also allows the student the opportunity to deliberate on issues that are affecting his or her community.  

Program details: Leetsdale's JCP position is open to all junior and senior year HS students residing in Leetsdale. JCP will be appointed for a term ending in Summer 2025.  JCP will observe the work of borough government by attending the monthly meetings of the Borough Council. JCP will be seated with Council and following all council rules.  Attendance at budget sessions, public hearings, and community events is strongly encouraged. The Junior Council Person can also perform a community service or research project of personal interest and meaningful value and present it to the council.   

If interested, please send a letter to the Borough Council outlining why you are interested in serving in the JCP position. Please direct your letters of intent to [email protected]. More than one applicant may be selected. There is no deadline to apply; however, council aims to fill the position by November 2024. For any further inquiries, please call Leetsdale Borough at (724)266-7530.

Eky Divine, a small business owner in Sewickley, is looking for students interested in working and learning about entrepreneurship.  Her company, Kizzlefoods, imports and distributes spices from her family-farm in Nigeria. Check out her website: www.kizzlefoods.com.   Email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about this opportunity.

Sweetwater Center for the Arts is offering an internship in culinary arts to work alongside teaching artist and chef, Andrew Alvarez. Chef Andrew will be teaching a variety of cooking classes at Sweetwater starting this fall and looks to an intern for assistance both in the kitchen during classes, as well as in marketing, curriculum, and more. Most classes at Sweetwater are Friday and Saturday evenings, and other hours will be assigned as appropriate.  Please email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if you are interested in applying.

Sweetwater Center for the Arts is offering a summer Arts Education Internship for this up-coming summer of 2024!  Interns will assist with the day-to-day operations of running various arts summer camps.  This includes check-in and check-out procedures, monitoring lunch and breaks, but most importantly, assisting in the classrooms.  Interns will be matched with camps that fit their interests and potential future plans.  Please email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if you are interested in applying.

The Iron Horse Theatre Company in Ambridge has internship opportunities available in Tech Design and Operation (lights and sound), Mentoring in the after-school Drama Club Program, and Graphic design. Please email Mrs. Keller at [email protected] if you are interested in applying.

CCAC is seeking high school students ages 14 to 17 with an interest in pursuing a trades career to participate in the Skilled Trades Academy. The program will take place at CCAC’s West Hills Center and consists of five courses:

Oct. 12 & Oct. 19 — Electrical

Oct. 26 & Nov. 2 — Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning

Nov. 9 & Nov. 16 — Solar Photovoltaic

Dec. 7 & Dec. 14 — Commercial Driver’s License

Jan. 11 & Jan. 18 — Welding

There is an application process and financial need is considered as part of the eligibility requirements. Applications will be reviewed through October 9. Participants who complete all courses will receive a $150 stipend. To learn more or apply, visit HERE.

CMU Center for Architecture Explorations is offering in a series of small workshops centered around the three core pedagogies of Carnegie Mellon Architecture. Exploring themes of Sustainability, Social Justice, and Artificial Intelligence. Click HERE to sign up.

Series One—Sustainability, October 26

Course Title: Ephemeral Environments

Course Description: This course explores how to design a temporary, pop-up, disintegrable pavilion piece with minimal environmental footprint. We will explore materials, joints, and construction methods to work around this theme.  Class Content: Design, Temporality, Material, Locality

Series Two—Social Justice, November 9

Course Title: Democratic Design

Course Description: This course explores how to design a parametric system that can morph and grow to a particular site and its respective needs. We will explore parametrics, systems, connections, and compositions to work around this theme. Class Content:  Design, Democracy, Social Justice, Parametrics, Systems

Series Three—Artificial Intelligence, November 16

Course Title: Artificial Architecture

Course Description:  This course explores the role of Artificial Intelligence in design and architectural workflows. We will explore the Adobe Firefly Model to work around this theme. Class Content: Design, Temporality, Material, Locality

WQED Film Academy draws on its partnership with teaching artists and professional mentors to teach a curriculum of the basics of digital media arts – what we call SCALE: storytelling, camera, audio, lighting, and editing. The curriculum is more than 100 hours of hands-on and collaborative learning and uses the latest digital media technology.  Each class produces their own short film by the end of the session.  There are three sessions per year: Summer, Fall and Spring. Scholarships are available.  Upon successful completion of WQED Film Academy, students can apply to the Teen Film Crew. The Teen Film Crew gets paid while they continue to build their skills creating promotional videos for clients. The teaching artists work with the students as a team – just as they would in a professional agency.  Click HERE for more information.

High School students can join the National Energy Academy where high school students will meet other like-minded classmates from around the country and learn about the energy industry from industry professionals.  Student registration is easy, simply fill out the media release form online.  Sarah Hewitt at [email protected] will then send the Zoom invitation the week before the meeting.

Benefits

• Resume Builder
• College Application Builder
• Connection to a professional organization
• First to hear about scholarships and opportunities
• Will be part of a LinkedIn group that will have continued connections within the industry
• Virtual competitions will be announced during the meetings which have substantial cash prizes
• Students will receive a professional certificate in May 2023 if they attend 5 of the 7 meetings. Alternate assignments can be completed if a student needs to miss a meeting.