There are a ton of internships available for high school students across Miami-Dade County, but not many compare to a 4-H experience like this! Meet the future of Urban Agriculture. Six students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools are spending their summer working as interns in a comprehensive program exposing them to various facets of food production in South Florida.
UF/IFAS Extension 4-H Agents, UF Scientists, along with local non-profit organizations, and businesses have provided students with hands-on training in food systems, production, safety, sanitation, nutrition, agricultural technology, vertical farming, and more!
Meet The Interns:
Grace Aquino
Grace is a Junior at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School. Her aspirations are to become a Veterinarian!
4-H Experience:
“4-H has been an amazing organization to work with. Our internship has been very fun and educational”
Justin Lebron
Justin is a Senior at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School. He will be continuing his education in the field of medicine.
4-H Experience:
“Throughout the internship, I have learned a lot of life skills and met a lot of good people who have helped me a lot during my time here.”
Karol Gonzalez
Karol is a Senior at Westland Hialeah Senior High School. She is a young entrepreneur with her very own business! She wants to become a nurse or surgeon.
4-H Experience:
“This program has helped me take a bigger step towards my future goals. It has taught me about nutrition, agriculture, leadership, and teamwork.”
Riordan “Rio” Cange
Rio is a Sophomore at American Senior High School. He enjoys participating in many sports activities and wants to help others live healthier lives.
4-H Experience:
“So far, my experience here with 4-H has been very educational. It has given me a chance to improve my communication and social skills. It has also given me a lot of business information that will be vital for future careers.”
Jazmin Mason-Jackson
Jazmin is a Sophomore at Miami Palmetto Senior High School. She wants to study neurology and one-day ace medical school!
4-H Experience:
“4-H has been an awesome experience. We’ve learned about hydroponic farming and have built leadership skills. I’ve also made friends with so many new people.
Mateo Padron
Mateo is a Senior at Miami Lakes Educational Center. He would like to study neuroscience to better understand how the brain stores memories.
4-H Experience:
“4-H has been a very helpful program in bettering my leadership skills, helping me learn how to communicate efficiently, and employing better teamwork dynamics.”
Thank You to Our Partners:
This internship could not be possible without our incredible community partners. Right Now For Today and Hammock Greens Farm provided real-world working experiences in hydroponic farming. Our UF/IFAS Extension friends, Dr. Germán Sandoya and Vanessa Vassilaros, shared their expertise in agricultural sciences. Jessica Alfonso, from the UF/IFAS Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, provided a hands-on experience in nutrition education.
As a part of the Miami Schools Career and Technical Education Summer Youth Internship Program, each student received a stipend of $1,400 for their 150+ hours of work. In addition, the Miami-Dade County Summer Food Service Program provided our students with two free meals during each day of work.
Keep up with Miami-Dade 4-H on social media!
Instagram: @MiamiDade4H
Facebook: @MiamiDade4H
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