When rising E. C. Glass High School 12th grader Janiyah Ware started her summer internship, she didn’t expect thousands of people to see her work. But by the end of her time at Foster Fuels, the digital billboard she’d designed in Canva was displayed on Forest Road for all to see.
“My favorite part of this internship was the billboard. Seeing it up there was cool. It was my first time really trying graphic design,” Ware said.
In addition to creating the billboard, Ware analyzed social media engagement metrics, shadowed the company’s video producer, helped print marketing materials, joined meetings, and more. Foster Fuels Vice President of Marketing Olivia Beavon served as Ware’s mentor and supervisor.
“It’s cool to be part of the decision-making process for students as they plan for their future careers,” Beavon said. “When I was in high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do. It’s valuable that students like Janiyah are being introduced to their options early through this program.”
Photo caption: Foster Fuels Vice President of Marketing Olivia Beavon (left) and intern Janiyah Ware (right).
Ware is one of 75 students who participated in Lynchburg Beacon of Hope’s summer internship program this year. In partnership with Central Virginia Community College, the program provides hands-on experience to equip students for successful careers after graduation.
Photo caption: Students participated in career skills-building sessions with local business leaders.
Students participated in intensive skills training before beginning their internships. They learned to build resumes and LinkedIn profiles, ace job interviews, network, communicate effectively, collaborate with coworkers, maintain professionalism, and manage their personal finances. Afterward, they spent 10 days at their internship sites, receiving a stipend for their work.
Each student was paired with a local business partner after an interview process. Students gained hands-on career experience with companies like the Academy Center of the Arts, The Farm Basket, Camp Kum-Ba-Yah, the City of Lynchburg Public Works Department, English Construction, First National Bank, and the Free Clinic of Central Virginia.
Each Friday, they convened to reflect on their experiences, share the knowledge they’d gained with their peers, and discuss growth opportunities. College mentors and Beacon of Hope staff provided advice and support.
Photo caption: Downtown Lynchburg Association Executive Director Stacy Garrett (left) and intern Julian Chilton (right).
While Ware learned marketing and graphic design at Foster Fuels, rising Heritage High School 12th grader Julian Chilton was developing skills of his own with the Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA). From meeting with local business leaders to beautifying outdoor spaces, Chilton’s internship gave him a little taste of everything downtown Lynchburg has to offer.
“I do things that I've never done before every single day. I've been in radio shows. I've sat in business meetings with lawyers about bylaws. I've worked the business meetup. I've been to the Academy and learned how the Academy works, how it runs,” Chilton said.
Through the DLA, Chilton practiced networking, learned web design, and even helped film social media content for the Academy Center of the Arts. The nature of the DLA’s work to uplift downtown businesses made for a varied, action-packed experience.
“I would say the biggest skills I’ll take away from this are adaptability and communication. I never really considered the importance of being able to converse with adults. But I want to be a lawyer in the future, and I’ll need to know how to convey my point and articulate myself in a proper manner,” Chilton said.
Photo caption: Chilton with Academy Center of the Arts Head of Operations Tabitha Abbott.
Just a few blocks away from the DLA office, rising Heritage High 11th grader Gabriella Hancock was getting a similarly varied internship experience through the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance (LRBA). The chamber of commerce’s work to promote economic development in Lynchburg gave Hancock hands-on experience with businesses all over the city.
“This internship gives students a 360-degree view of not just one industry, but the entire business community,” said LRBA Director of Talent and Workforce Development Tori Gilmartin, who served as Hancock’s supervisor. “We’ve been involved in the Beacon of Hope internship program since its inception because we value investing in the next generation of business professionals.”
Hancock joined meetings with business leaders, helped facilitate the SHE Week career and leadership conference for young women, and assisted with graphic design and communications. She visited local business headquarters, like the Lynchburg iHeartMedia office, to get a taste of various industries.
Photo caption (from left to right): LRBA Director of Talent and Workforce Development Tori Gilmartin, LRBA intern Gabriella Hancock, iHeartMedia Market President Paul Rothfuss, and iHeartMedia Outside Account Executive Todd Robatin.
“This internship helped me get a better sense of what I want to do after graduation. I met a whole bunch of people and learned about different careers I had never considered before, especially in media and advertising,” Hancock said.
One of Hancock’s favorite projects was the blog post she wrote for the LRBA website reflecting on her internship experience. You can read the piece here.
“Another important lesson I learned was how much adults genuinely care about students and their education. Through meetings and discussions, I saw firsthand how many people are working behind the scenes to improve opportunities for students across our region,” Hancock wrote. “Seeing this gave me a new appreciation for the effort that goes into supporting students and creating pathways for their future success.”
Indeed, the Lynchburg Beacon of Hope summer internship is a shining example of local companies, organizations, and educators coming together to support student success. As Ware, Chilton, Hancock, and their fellow interns look ahead to their futures, the lessons they learned will follow them into college, careers, and life.
Photo caption: LRBA intern Gabriella Hancock tours an iHeartMedia recording studio.