DEARBORN - A summer internship is a valuable experience for college students. It's a tremendous opportunity to sharpen their skills, strengthen their resume and show potential employers what they can do in a work environment. 

At Ford Motor Company, summer interns also learn valuable lessons in helping create a better world.

"Many of these future leaders will become Ford employees and community service is an important part of the company's legacy," said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. "We are proud to pass these values on to the next generation and continue Ford's commitment to meeting the needs of communities we serve."

The Ford Volunteer Corps put more than 100 interns to work helping our nonprofit agency partners during Ford's summer shutdown week. They washed windows, painted cottages and landscaped around the Methodist Children's Home. Ford interns sorted food and stocked shelves at Fish and Loaves, and packaged 10,000 meals at Forgotten Harvest.
 
"It was an extra plus to do volunteer work," said Catherine Reber, a finance major at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. "It was a reminder of just how lucky we are."

"We received really good feedback from our community service contacts about the interns," said April Akins, program coordinator, Workforce Planning & Recruiting, Ford Motor Company. "And they had the opportunity to volunteer with their friends and coworkers, and network among themselves."

Ford's summer intern program is stocked with future engineers, finance majors, business students and others. These young men and women from around the country work side by side with Ford employees, gaining real-world experience and helpful insight into their chosen field of study.

"There's a lot to learn, a lot of info to process," said Martin Edwards, an engineering student at Alcorn State University in Mississippi. "I'm trying to learn as much as I can and ask questions."

"Each intern does a presentation to management before they leave the program," said Akins. "A high percentage of Ford's new hires come from students participating in these internships."

Each year, Ford typically hosts about 300 interns for up to 12 weeks of employment and training. The volunteer work in the community helps round out the Ford experience and gives the students a true measure of what Ford Motor Company is all about.

"This was a great opportunity to give back a little bit," said Edwards. "We have to get out and try to make a difference any way we can."

To view more photos of Ford volunteers, including the summer interns, please follow the link - www.flickr.com/photos/fordcommunity/sets