South Carolina college students experience the balance of power each summer
The Santee Cooper Environmental Internship Program provides a summer education-in-the-workplace opportunity designed to give interns an in-depth understanding of the many traditional and renewable resources used to make electricity, the importance of balancing environmental issues with meeting electricity demands and how that electricity is transmitted and ultimately distributed to homes and businesses. They will also learn about Santee Cooper’s key role in the environmental and economic well-being of South Carolina. The program concentrates on the challenges of keeping the lights on while protecting the state’s environmental and economic prosperity.
Interns will have the opportunity to work in several different departments at one of the nation's largest, public-power utilities. In the field, interns will see what rural electrification has done for our state and what Santee Cooper continues to do to protect our natural resources. From the laboratory to the backwoods, interns will have the opportunity to discover and explore the natural world around them.
The program includes housing, a food allowance, and hourly wages. The program is hosted at the corporate headquarters located in Moncks Corner.
How Do I Qualify?
11 college students are selected each summer to participate in Santee Cooper's Environmental Intern Program, one from each congressional district and five from the state at large.
To participate in the Santee Cooper Environmental Intern Program, you must:
- Be a permanent resident of South Carolina paying in-state tuition.
- Be an undergraduate student at a South Carolina college or university.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be a rising junior or senior. Internships are served during the summer that precedes the junior or senior year.
- Have completed 60 credit hours by the end of the spring 2010 term.
- Have attended two full years of college.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
- Carry a minimum of 24 credit hours during the current school year.
- Be willing to work in a variety of outdoor settings, as well as in a laboratory and office environment. You must be willing to get messy. This is a hands-on internship, and some of the work assignments may cause you to get wet or dirty.
- Pass a pre-employment physical including a drug and alcohol screen.
How Do I Apply?
Ten South Carolina legislators and the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. will each appoint a qualified student to the Intern Program. If you're a college sophomore or junior who meets the criteria, you can apply to the program by completing the following steps:
- Step 1 - Complete an internship application
- Step 2 - Print 7 copies of the application
- Step 3 - Attach your college transcript (An unofficial copy is fine. If you are selected to be an intern, you may be asked for an official transcript at that time.)
- Step 4 - Mail an application and transcript before February 15 to the following six appointers:
- Both of South Carolina's U.S. Senators
- The U.S. Congressman representing your legislative district
- The President Pro Tempore of the S.C. Senate
- The Speaker of the S.C. House of Representatives
- The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc.
You may seek an appointment from all six offices. (See application contacts.)
- Step 5 - Mail an application and transcript to the Intern Program Coordinator for information and tracking purposes. (Address follows in next section.)
The 2010 program dates are May 24 - July 30, 2010. The deadline for submitting applications is February 15, 2010. Appointments will be announced in late March/early April.
