Ezirim
AUSTIN — Two HT students participated in the City’s internship program in summer 2018, Chima Ezirim and Christopher Nguyen. Dr. Patricia Muse, the IT Program Manager for the City’s Communications and Technology Management (CTM) department, noted that “they both performed admirably at their jobs.” Ezirim and Nguyen are majoring in the School of Business and Technology’s computer science program.
Nguyen
Ezirim interned with the City of Austin’s Communication Technology Management Division. His job entailed redesigning the Addressing Department’s web pages. Ezirim stated, “Interning with the City of Austin allowed me to apply skills I gained in college to the real world. I also expanded my knowledge in my major field while being mentored by professionals. I even learned about the City of Austin’s addressing standards.” He continued, “I had a great experience and recommend that HT students should apply for the City of Austin’s internship program next year.”
The City of Austin had an opportunity to receive feedback from interns during the Young Professional’s Town Hall held on National Intern Day. Christopher Nguyen was one of eight interns who participated in a panel discussion answering questions from peers and city staff.
Mr. Stephen Elkins, City of Austin’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), spearheaded the college internship program to increase students’ knowledge about the various City departments as well as to enhance their skills in their chosen disciplines. Elkins is a trendsetter among the City’s many departments. He arrived in Austin in 2010, and according to a 2017 article by Kelly O’Halloran of Built In, “in a very short time, he and his team have helped transform the technologies and data used across the city to make it one of the most technologically progressive places in the country.”
According to Elkins, “the goal of doing the internship is to inspire a desire among the students to work in tech, thereby deepening the pool of available technologists for hire in the coming years. We are creating real opportunities for these students.”
This internship compensated the students and lasted for a term of eight weeks. However, because HT’s Ezirim and Nguyen performed so well, their internships were extended to the entire 2018-2019 academic year.
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