Corpus Christi Program Gives Student Interns Living Wage
By Lisa Hinojosa

CORPUS CHRISTI CALLER-TIMES
Thursday, August 28, 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI — Del Mar College junior Jordan Paul cannot get off the bus.
Don't get the wrong idea. This guy has his own wheels. We're talking about his work. Paul recently landed a job with Reel Simple Productions as a webmaster and graphic designer, and his Regional Transportation Authority ads are featured on buses across town. But what really pushed his career into motion was an internship with the film and video production company.

It's a tough business to break into, but Paul got a toehold thanks to a $130,921 grant from the Corpus Christi Business and Job Development Corp. to Del Mar College and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Late last year, the 4A board, an advisory group that recommends uses for the city's economic development sales tax, approached educational institutions and WorkForce Solutions of the Coastal Bend with the idea to finance living-wage internships at small businesses using the grant, said Beverly Cage, student employment adviser at Del Mar College.

"The 4A board said, 'We have these funds, and this is what we want to do with this. Can you help us?'" Cage said.

The discussion yielded a pilot professional internship program designed to support small businesses in the area and, in turn, bolster economic growth and development. Under the program, students will work 19 hours a week for 12 weeks, earning a living wage at a qualifying small business. A living wage is generally defined as a salary that allows a worker to achieve an acceptable standard of living. The cost of wages are split between the college and the small businesses; for example, the small business will pay the intern the national minimum wage standard of $6.55 an hour, and Del Mar College will match the amount, thus producing an hourly rate of $13.10.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to get real-world work experience—especially for those who might not qualify for other internships," Cage said. "Also, because of the match, the student is being paid a great wage. This will allow them the opportunity to focus on school and the internship and not have to work a part-time job in addition to the internship. It's a win-win situation for both the small business and the student intern."

The program already has placed nearly 15 Del Mar students in traditional (business, computer science, marketing, communication) and nontraditional (welders, drafting, diesel mechanics) industries, Cage said. "We work with students who are either in their sophomore year or one semester from graduating. They have to have the knowledge and skills. We've been working with May and June grads right now for spring internships. We're scheduled to place 27 students in the fall and 27 in the spring of '09," Cage said.

Before he secured his spot at Reel Simple, Paul, 29, had earned a liberal arts degree from Northwestern State University in Louisiana and was studying digital media at Del Mar, where he plans to graduate in spring 2009.

"I approached Reel Simple about doing my required practicum" with the company, Paul said.

"I knew Jordan was a good student, but I just felt that his skills needed a little seasoning," said Daniel Garza, president and owner of Reel Simple. At the time, Garza, a board member at the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, recalled hearing about the program, and at his suggestion, Paul researched the grant. "He followed up, and I couldn't get rid of him," Garza said, with a laugh. The internship grant enabled Paul to earn money and build his portfolio while he was studying, he said.

Garza lauded the program as a mutually enriching experience that helps students build practical knowledge and fosters small-business growth.

"What was really beneficial for us was that it allowed us to bring someone in and give him real practical experience," Garza said. "He had the skills. I think he just needed to apply them in the real world." Paul started off working on Web design and maintenance on existing sites and on graphic designs for print advertising. As Paul neared the end of his internship, his employers broached the topic of hiring him, and before his stint lapsed, Paul received an offer to come aboard.

Inviting him to join the company seemed like a no-brainer, Garza said. "It's so hard to find people who are motivated and skilled and be able to fill in the gaps. The internship is an invaluable resource. I recommend it to all my peers," Garza said.

As for the future of his business, it's simple, he said: "The shop is growing. We're going to hire a fourth person. We were hoping to get them from the same program."