Five high school students from Ysleta Independent School District (Ysleta ISD) in El Paso, Texas, participated in a summer internship with Marathon Petroleum Corporation from June through July. The students, all rising seniors, were part of Ysleta ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and underwent a competitive selection process.

Hands-On Experience

The internship provided a hands-on experience in a real-world setting, helping the students develop skills that will aid them in their future careers. The students worked alongside Marathon employees, learning valuable skills and gaining insight into the industry.

According to Tommy Skinner, the refinery’s human resources director, the students were fully immersed in the work environment. ‘They’re getting a real taste of what it’s like to work at Marathon. So from the time they are getting here in the morning, they’re working as if they already work here for our company,’ Skinner said.

Victor Vela, the IT manager at Marathon, also praised the students’ experience, stating, ‘We were there training them, teaching them, showing them. They were interacting with the refinery people.’

The students expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, with one student saying, ‘The experience I had here was very fulfilling because I got to meet with the project managers. I got to meet tech service engineers, and they all taught me so many valuable skills in their career path.’

Another student noted, ‘Anyone I would talk to was nice, and they were willing to help.’ The students also appreciated the opportunity to work in a real-world setting, with one student saying, ‘I’ve heard about stuff like this, but I’ve never really seen it in practice. So being able to see it, it’s really been interesting and fun for me.’

Developing New Skills

The students were able to meet and work alongside Marathon employees, developing new skills and gaining confidence in their abilities. Rebecca Ayala, an environmental engineer, emphasized the importance of learning soft skills, such as working in groups and giving presentations.

The students are now ready to incorporate their new skills in the classroom and beyond, with one student saying, ‘I’m so confident now that, like, it’s really inspired me and challenged me and ultimately has helped me in my abilities.’

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.