MDOT TRAC recognizes 3 students for completing
intern program.
August 18, 2008 -- Three high school students successfully completed a nine-week summer internship with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The participants, Gina Cosgrove of Portage High School, Morgan Hansen of Kalamazoo High School, and Christina Kalouche of Lansing Eastern High School, were selected based on their academic records and interest in a career in civil engineering. Over the summer, they worked with MDOT engineers on a variety of assignments including surveying and bridge inspection. In addition, Christina Kalouche has received a $2,500 scholarship from the civil engineering department of Michigan State University, and Morgan Hansen has received a $2,500 scholarship from the civil engineering department of Michigan Technological University.
The internship was a pilot program created to complement the Transportation and Civil Engineering (TRAC) Program of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), which is sponsored by AASHTO to interest junior high and high school students in engineering studies and careers. MDOT has been offering AASHTO's TRAC Program to schools in Michigan since 2004. MDOT hopes to keep students interested in civil engineering with the TRAC summer internships and a civil engineering/technician co-op program for college students. Both programs offer students an opportunity to earn an income to help cover the cost of a college education.
"We are very impressed with these bright, young, future engineers," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "We will be offering this program again next summer to encourage more students to study engineering and consider careers in transportation."
Throughout the school year, transportation professionals from MDOT and other agencies volunteer their time to visit students in the classroom and work with "TRAC modules," which enhance concepts the class is studying. The TRAC Program is offered to schools throughout the state at no cost.
For more information about the TRAC Program, visit MDOT's Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdot-trac, or contact Jan Pohl, Michigan TRAC Program manager, at 517-373-9571.
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