Rick Karl
This blog post was written by Rick Karl, assisted by Shannon Twilling, of Arizona State Museum’s archaeological records office. This office has a state mandate to maintain cultural resource records in perpetuity. Data from an average of 600 projects a year pour in to this office requiring very specific processing in order to be relevant and accessible to researchers, archaeological professionals, and interested members of the public. The office also manages AZSITE, a database using GIS to record cultural resource sites around the state. Neither the office of archaeological records nor AZSITE receives any state funding, despite their legislative mandate.
I manage Arizona State Museum’s archaeological records office. Last year I faced a staffing dilemma. Receiving absolutely no state funding for personnel, I had no hope of hiring full-time professional help to tackle an ever-growing backlog of data (dating back to 2004!). My office earns just enough revenue to be modestly self-sufficient, so I have a little money for salary. I found a unique and effective staffing solution in San Miguel Corporate Internship (SMCI).
Prompted by a friend’s suggestion and after a bit of research, I found that San Miguel Corporate Internship is based in San Miguel High School, a private institution located on Tucson’s southwest side. All students admitted to San Miguel are required to work five days a month as part of their academic curriculum and to help pay their tuition.
Although I was skeptical about hiring high school kids, I was intrigued to learn more, if only for the salary savings this opportunity might provide.
San Miguel was founded in 2004 in a community where less than 50% of Latino and Native American high school kids were graduating. Further, a family’s average income at this school is less than $30,000 a year. Most of San Miguel’s students are the first in their families to graduate from high school.
After an initial conversation with SMCI Director Mark Neimeyer, and after visiting the school, my skepticism was completely erased.
After that visit I realized this was the answer to my staffing dilemma. The nature of my office’s work is computer based, and involving some very specific software. These students were not only the right age to embrace computer challenges, but were all very bright, well-mannered, and enthusiastic.
Carlos at work
Angel, 15, was in charge of scanning all the cultural resource records and CRM reports that would become available on the AZSITE website. Kaylah, 16, entered data from the backlogged projects into the AZSITE entry module (a proprietary MS Access program developed by AZSITE and used to record new surveys). Kayla, 16, helped organize the backlogged data so that it could quickly be found for research. Carlos, 14, was tasked with the initial archaeological site plotting on the USGS 7.5’ topographic maps and the correcting of locational errors. All four students quickly learned ArcGIS 9.3, a GIS software program, and began digitizing project boundaries for insertion into AZSITE’s online map application.
Excelling at their tasks, the high school students processed more than a year’s worth of backlogged data and processed a considerable volume of new data in just a semester’s time.
Salary savings was half to two-thirds and my office’s efficiency was increased by about the same. The San Miguel students provided a means of decreasing our lag-time and have become an invaluable part of my office. I will gladly be hiring San Miguel students for the 2010/11 academic year.
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Well done to the students. I hope that they get to use their ArcGIS knowledge again and keep it up to date in the future – GIS literacy certainly seems to be a skill in high demand.
This is a wonderful win-win situation. All parties involved benefit, and the collective good is better for it.
Chris Twilling
As a retired high school teacher I know the value of high school students. They are a wonderful resource and I am so glad to see that they are being ultilized. It is truly a win/win situation. I wish more organizations would do the same.
Congratulations to all.
Joan
This is a marvelous way to help and educate young people in our community, especially from the poor and Hispanic areas. While the museum is benefiting you are making the best of a bad economic situation.
I always love to hear things like this. Being a former teacher. Its always great for the schools and community
Way to go guys. It’s good to hear about some students in a positive light for once rather than always negative. It really helps out us single parents to know kids are growing up right.
I live in Arizona, and wow, considering that we are one of the nation’s ‘dumbest’ states, I’m surprised to find our kids doing our state a great community service. Maybe we should think about having a required amount of hours for students to work contribute?
This is just a great article. Kids really need to do more for themselves.
I think this is a great way to educate the children of our community. More cities should adopt a program like this.
I think this is a great way to educate the children of our community. More cities should adopt a program like this.
Actually there’s really a lot of Genius in the High school, as I know, a lot of softwares are designed by them.
they get more and more creativity,and internet help them know more,I think this is why.John
I live in Tucson, and my son used to go to the YMCA, which has interns. One of the new interns was from a local school – I’m not sure if it was San Miguel or not.
I think it’s awesome that the high school students are being given the opportunity to intern at local establishments, especially here in Arizona. Prepares them for a great life afterward!
Cheers,
Tia
Great experience for these students too, Good job guys!
I think it is great that students are getting a hands on experience. This is so important to the student’s self esteem.
yes this is great for student’s self esteem.
It’s really great that students have opportunity to gain some experience. That’s very important for them.Thanks
This is really a good article, high school students are the future
I think it’s awesome that the high school students are being given the opportunity to intern at local establishments, especially here in Arizona. Prepares them for a great life afterward!
High school students have been well prepared their milestone for college.
I feel it’s superior that the high school students are being given the chance to intern at local institutions, particularly right here in Arizona. Prepares them for an ideal life afterward!
Its a great thing that the high school students are being given the chance to intern at local institutions. This is a valuable experience that will help them to interact with the society. This is an example for everybody.
The experience the students will gain will participating in the internship will help them excel with their careers.
Terry
Great post. Sounds like a good esteem booster for students.
very nice post, high school students represent our future as society, thanks
High school students have been well prepared their milestone for college.
I think it’s awesome that the high school students are being given the opportunity to intern at local establishments, especially here in Arizona