Energy industry sees its future in interns.

• Position: POWERING JOB OPPORTUNITY

While many businesses and industries evaluate their next generation workforce after colleges and universities graduate students, the Carolina nuclear energy industry follows another path. These companies engage college and university students while they are still in school. The students can achieve their job goals, and the company helps plan for its future workforce.

Approximately 600 of tomorrow's energy workers were at internships and co-op assignments this past summer in the Carolinas. and many were in the nuclear industry. The companies learn about the students and their potential, and the students learn about prospective career paths.

With internships, students work at a company during a regular school term or the summer as a part of their studies. Among the nuclear-oriented Carolinas companies using summer interns are AREVA, ASCO Valve, CB&I. Duke Energy. Energy Solutions. Fluor. Mesa Associates, Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems, Savannah River Site. SCANA, Westinghouse, URS Corporation and Zachry.

Internships provide real-world education and a test-drive for these prospective employees.

"The work schedule and demands of keeping the lights on 24/7 while adhering to the highest standards in safety and performance is not an environment for everyone." says Debby Hager, manager, strategic workforce development for Duke Energy Corp.'s nuclear generation department. "Intern programs allow the company to determine if the student is a potential full-time employee and for the student to determine if the company is where he or she would like to start a career. This two-directional look is an important component to match students with careers and has proven successful for interns and our company for many years."

That was the case with Danielle Suprick, who recently joined Mesa Associates, an engineering services firm in Fort Mill, S.C. Danielle is a mechanical engineering graduate from UNC Charlotte who interned with Mesa this past summer.

"Danielle has quickly become a valuable member of the team. Her willingness and drive to participate in projects has broadened her understanding of engineering applications in the utility market." says Brandi Reilly. program manager for Mesa. "We fully endorse in and/or cooperative education to provide real-time experience and knowledge for the younger generation. It is our way to accommodate the brain-drain of baby boomers leaving the energy sector and an excellent opportunity to put our best senior...