During the 2023-24 school year, 181 Elizabeth High School students served in career-exploration, service-oriented internships in town and throughout the region, according to EHS Internship Coordinator Steve Beaudoin. That is roughly one in every five EHS students participating in an internship. All together, they amassed more than 18,000 hours of volunteer service.

One of the organizations that hosted the most interns was Elizabeth School District itself, with several students interested in becoming classroom teachers. Most are also in Beaudoin’s teacher-preparation class, and several attended an event at the University of Northern Colorado in the second semester of the year to learn more about teaching and the options available to them in college.

For direct experience to find out if they truly have the passion for teaching, though, nothing was better than being in a classroom. In this video, four EHS teaching interns and two participating elementary-school teachers share their views about the experience, including, in order of appearance:

• Jessica Conley, second-grade teacher at Running Creek Elementary, who hosted a pair of interns (unfortunately, they were not available on the days this video was shot).
• Gwen Hackett, intern in Brianna Lenz’s kindergarten class at Running Creek. 
• Emma Williams, intern in Christine Battistoni’s second-grade class at Singing Hills Elementary.
• Kaylah Martin, intern in Krisann Barksdale’s third-grade class at Running Creek.
• Amaya Tunstill, intern in Michelle Jones’ fifth-grade class at Running Creek.
• Brianna Lenz, kindergarten teacher at Running Creek and cooperating teacher for Gwen Hackett.

Two of the students interviewed confirmed they are locked into becoming teachers, and the other two are leaving the door open but perhaps not for teaching at the elementary level. In all cases, though, the internships proved valuable in helping the interns through their career exploration process.

Recent graduates Trenton Miller and Topher Edwards made the most of their senior-year internships with the Rattlesnake Fire Protection District's fleet maintenance facility north of Elizabeth. Aaron Lutter, fleet manager, and Eric Schrieber, fleet mechanic, visited Derek Spohn's auto repair class early in the 2023-24 school year to tell students about their work keeping fire trucks and ambulances on the road for the Rattlesnake department as well as Elizabeth's and Kiowa's fire and rescue departments. Trenton and Topher expressed interest in starting internships to learn about working on large vehicles. As they explain in this video, that opportunity led to additional exploration on Topher's career path, as Lutter and Schrieber are fully trained firefighters and EMTs along with being mechanics. For both interns, the chance to receive specialized training has positioned them well as they start working toward their careers of service.

Joshua LaCrue, a rising senior at Elizabeth High School, knows what he wants to do after graduation, and as a junior he gained a head start on his career thanks to the Kiowa Fire Protection District. Working with Firefighter/EMT Trevor Beutner and the rest of the department’s staff, Joshua used internship time to go through the department’s probationary firefighter program and take the first steps toward becoming a firefighter, and possibly an EMT. From checking and prepping equipment to learning basic emergency procedures and even going on calls, Joshua gained priceless experience and knowledge so he can follow in the department members’ footsteps.

Elizabeth High School students volunteered for several days at the National Western Stock Show in January to earn internship credits while exploring career possibilities and building their people skills in anticipation of life after high school. Nine of them, along with student journalist Sam Johnson, stopped by the ESD boardroom to talk about their experiences and share what they learned.

Three recent graduates from Elizabeth High School came back in January 2024 to talk about what they have learned about life after high school. Each has a different perspective to share with current EHS students who are about to make major decisions. Grace Alltop, Class of 2023, is studying pre-physical therapy at Colby Community College in Kansas while playing on a softball scholarship. She lives in the dorms on campus at her small school and eventually aims to attain a doctorate. Jacob Freer, Class of 2023, is in an 18-month program at Wichita State Tech in Kansas. He lives in an off-campus apartment and will be ready to work as an airplane mechanic in a little more than a year from now. Taylor Hutson, Class of 2022, works full-time as a repair technician for Mr. Appliance and is working on a business degree from the University of Phoenix. As a full-time worker and part-time student, her aim is to earn a degree without attaining debt. And as a woman in a male-dominated industry, she already has multiple employment options at her company. The three former Cardinals stopped by the Elizabeth School District boardroom to share their experiences with current students, answering several questions about school, careers, friends, living arrangements and much more.

Elizabeth High School December graduate Paige Benton worked her way toward early enrollment at Colorado State University by taking every opportunity to earn college credit while also exploring what she wants to do with her life. She enrolled in a pair of internships as a junior and senior and discovered her true passion. At her first internship with Iron Horse Equine in Elizabeth, she confirmed a strong interest in becoming a large-animal veterinarian. Her second internship with Comanche Veterinary Hospital in Kiowa helped her realize she specifically wants to work with cattle. This highly motivated future vet also works 30 hours a week, cares for her own animals, rodeos as much as possible, and still graduated a semester early.

Avery Goettge and Sam Johnson provided a unique service through their junior-year internships by live-streaming play-by-play and color commentary of Elizabeth High School football and basketball games. As they enter their senior year, both intend to pursue broadcast journalism in college. Meanwhile, they intend to continue broadcasting games for the 2023-24 sports seasons and hope to branch out to broadcast other sports as well.

Before graduating from Elizabeth High School, Whitney Benson completed an internship with the Town of Elizabeth, where she learned about planning and zoning. As she prepares to head to college, Whitney now has a deeper understanding of the many aspects of civic planning and civil engineering after working with numerous people in Elizabeth's local government, who also collaborated with her to survey high school students about what they want from their community both from the standpoints of recreation and employment.

At the Potestio Brothers Equipment upfit facility, Elizabeth High School interns get a chance to learn what it's like to have a career in the trades while receiving expert guidance, training and advice. PBE technicians give interns direct, hands-on experience and, for some, an entry point to a paying job if they have the aptitude, skill and work ethic. And, as they can personally attest, that entry point provides the chance to make a good living right out of high school.

Before graduating with the Class of 2023, Tana Johnson was one of dozens of Elizabeth High School students who participated in the internship program, which placed them in businesses that would allow them to explore career interests. Tana’s interest in the fashion industry and business led her to an internship at The Secret Well Boutique, which moved locations shortly after this video was shot (scheduling conflicts severely delayed the post-production of this year’s internship videos). The Secret Well is now located at The Nest at The 1897 House on Main Street (286 Main Street) in Elizabeth. The boutique’s owners, Barbara Berndt and Hannah Madsen, welcomed Tana and provided her with a full range of opportunities to learn about their fashion business, and Tana leapt at the chances she was given. She shared her fashion sense with the owners and customers alike, even starting her own series of product-spotlight videos on the store’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/TheSecretWel...

From the Teacher Cadet program to a pair of elementary school internships, Rachel Glaser is not only exploring her interest in becoming a teacher, but she is also learning exactly what age level she wants to teach. Investing two days a week in a first-grade classroom internship at Running Creek Elementary this year, she says she has found her niche.

Interviews, videography and editing by Jacob Freer, communications intern with Elizabeth School District.

In the final Career Explorers video from the 2021-22 school year, rising senior Karli Pronske describes the prestigious internship which led her to drive to the State Capitol of Colorado on Tuesdays in the spring semester to work in Constituent Services department of the governor's office. There, she worked with other interns -- the rest of whom were in college. Many colleagues and constituents alike thought the professional and poised Elizabeth High School student was too.

After participating in the internship, which was arranged by coordinator Leanne Cook, Karli is interested in a mix of public service, journalism and politics as she looks forward to college.

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When it comes to final products at the end of an internship, Ben Doremus might have everyone beat. His sophomore-year internship was with his father, Ed, who owns a metal fabrication business which builds and delivers hardware to major retail stores across Colorado and other western states.

Both because Ben has similar career interests and because the family was working on a custom-made RV that doubles as a delivery truck, he was able to learn from the best expert he knows. Together, they worked – and worked hard – on a one-of-a-kind internship experience creating something from pencil-on-graph-paper all the way to a roadworthy head-turner.

The experience was a double benefit for the family because Ed was able to spend countless hours not only sharing his vast experience and technical knowledge, but also his wisdom about finding a meaningful career, taking the right steps, and avoiding missteps so his son can build a financially secure and personally fulfilling life for himself.

Most of all, they got to create memories building something their whole family will use for many more memorable times together.

As one of four(!) Elizabeth High School interns at Iron Horse Equine, Kailey Humes invested a full day once a week through the entire school year, learning about large-animal veterinary medicine.

The three veterinarians at Iron Horse all generously worked with each of the interns, showing them every aspect of their work, from field calls in the bitter cold of winter to in-house appointments. The entire staff at Iron Horse also took the time to explain even the smallest details of how and why they do what they do, so the interns could gain a full understanding of what their career choice could entail.

Elle Mowbray, one of seven valedictorians in Elizabeth High School’s Class of 2022, completed an internship at Pivotal Sports Performance in Parker at the end of her senior year. A member of the reigning three-time Class 4A gymnastics team at EHS, Elle wanted to pursue her interest in sports-performance coaching as she prepared for college.

EHS internship coordinator Leanne Cook reached out to Patrick Nolan at Pivotal and, even though he normally only brings in college interns, Nolan was impressed with Elle’s history as a student athlete. He welcomed Elle to learn the ropes and eventually work with the athletes he coaches – from age 10 all the way to college and professional athletes.

The internship went so well for both of them, one of Elle’s friends and champion-gymnast teammates, Sydney Kissinger, plans to intern at Pivotal beginning in 2023.

With a lifelong love of animals, Madison Montoya needed to find out for herself what a career in veterinary medicine might look like -- and what animals she'd prefer to treat. An internship at Franktown Animal Clinic, with a staff willing to give her every opportunity to learn, has given her direction and excitement for her future.

When Madison is a senior next year, she plans to further her veterinary education with half days at Pickens Technical College.

Bella Valentine served in a unique role with the Town of Elizabeth's Board of Trustees throughout the 2021-22 school year. Last spring, she applied for and was named to the position of Student Liaison. In that role, she has had a seat at Town Board meetings, shared monthly reports about the school district, fostered cooperation between the Town and Elizabeth School District, helped plan -- and participated in -- Town events, and learned how local government works.

The Student Liaison role has existed since 2016, and Mayor Megan Vasquez says it is a crucial role both for community building and for giving students an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge and experience.

What used to be a college fair made its post-Covid return – with a twist – for Elizabeth High School students on March 16. Along with numerous in-person college representatives helping to fill the gym were dozens of people sharing career options that don't require a four-year degree.

In many cases, students can begin making a good living right out of high school in a variety of career fields, which was what organizers of the fair wanted to demonstrate so students could think about all the options that lay before them.

The Career and College Fair wasn't only for juniors and seniors. All EHS students, as well as eighth graders, made their way to the fair as part of the district's comprehensive efforts to build career readiness. The fair was also open to home-school students and neighboring school districts.

Even in Elementary School, students at Running Creek are learning skills and competencies that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Learning by doing, especially, helps them understand and apply these concepts. 

One example is hot cocoa sales and delivery undertaken by Mrs. Snider's fourth-grade class in early 2022. They chose this entrepreneurial venture and collaborated to raise funds to beautify the front of their school with new plants. Their efforts attracted the attention of 9News:

Follow-up from early May:

Lincoln Glazebrook has big, clear, specific aspirations for a future in football -- specifically coaching football (aka soccer) in Europe. He has ideas for college, what to study, and how to break into coaching. One of his first steps was to seek out an internship at his own school.

Internship coordinator Leanne Cook and girls soccer coach Summer Katzoff worked with Lincoln to provide an opportunity to learn about coaching during this spring's soccer season. Take a look at this video to learn more about this unique internship opportunity provided through Elizabeth High School.

Feb. 22, 2022

The entire fifth grade from Singing Hills Elementary spent the day at Young AmeriTowne in Belmar on Feb. 16. During that day, each student had a job for which they had applied and prepared to carry out in the weeks leading up to the event.

When they got to Young AmeriTowne, they went to work, interacted with other "professionals," went to the bank, bought and sold goods, paid fines, and even made sure to take their breaks on schedule.

The day was the culmination of five weeks of lessons. As their teachers introduced them to personal finance and career exploration, the students gained a true taste of what's ahead for them as they grow up.

Dec. 13, 2021

Bonnie Blue’s Event Venue opened in early 2020 in northern Elbert County and has quickly become a sought-after destination for weddings, dances, meetings and other types of events. With stunning views of Colorado’s outdoors as well as meticulously chosen architecture and decor, it has already won industry acclaim.

For a senior intern from Elizabeth High School, the venue – and those who run it – also represented the perfect opportunity to learn about the wedding industry and start preparing for a career.

In this video, Malia Monette shares some of what she has learned as an intern at Bonnie Blue’s, and Katie Arnold, venue manager, talks about the value of internships from her perspective.

Nov. 19, 2021

Elizabeth High School senior Piper Gustafson has big dreams of becoming a large-animal veterinarian. After an internship last year and a summer job with a small-animal veterinarian, she still had lots of questions about how to achieve her goals.

Her internship coordinator at EHS, Leanne Cook, knew all about Piper’s interests and aspirations, so the two of them worked on ways to find the right people to answer the questions. And why not start at the top? Cook arranged for Piper to go to the Colorado Department of Agriculture in Broomfield to ask the state’s experts.

In this video, Piper explains what she gained from investing a day learning crucial information that will help shape her future.

Oct. 1, 2021

Several post-secondary institutions were represented at the Sept. 30 Homegrown Talent Initiative Open House at EHS, including some that focus on workforce readiness. 

Jenise Rosa of Pickens Technical College and Brian Treesh of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology each had lines of students and parents for the entire evening. They explained how students with a variety of aptitudes can find a career path that fits them. Students can acquire state-of-the-art skills and important work habits that will help them succeed in the workforce.

During the Fall 2021 Homegrown Talent Initiative Open House at EHS, interns Gracie Bohler and Masen Loeks shared what they were learning from their work with local businesses and how that affects their career plans.