On Thursday, August 8, 2022, we returned to the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania for our Annual Recognition Luncheon. Our 27th cycle of the Municipal Internship Program (MIP) concluded with a celebration of the achievements made by 17 bright grads and undergrads whose projects ranged from municipal governments, development corporations, and councils of governments.

Interns this year joined the program from Thiel College in Mercer County, all the way down to West Virginia University, with majors covering Public Policy and Management, Political Science, and Urban Affairs and Planning.

Projects this year explored Blight Mitigation and Community Development, Comprehensive Planning and Capital Improvement Plans, Environmental Remediation, and Community Outreach and Engagement. Perspectives changed as interns experienced government on the local level, with one of our interns saying, “I realized that the most meaningful change occurs at the local stage of government, and I could have a career that has a direct impact on people.”

During the Recognition Luncheon, attendees heard from the Honorable Richard Vilello, Deputy Secretary, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Community Affairs and Development, and Darla Cravotta, Director of Community Relations & Special Projects, and a Local Government Academy Board Member.

After lunch and a video compilation of each intern discussing their project and their experiences through the summer, Intern Project Coordinator Lauren Lowen introduced Joe Acevedo and Shrinath Suresh to present on Dormont Borough’s Safe Mobility Plan.

MIP provides paid internships to graduate and undergraduate students who want to work on real issues facing our communities every day. Each year, we see interns offered positions within or in relation to the communities they served during their internship, and this year was no different. We wish our interns well in their pursuits and can’t wait to hear about their future success!

To view the Recognition Luncheon photo album, click here.