Broomfield, Colo., July 6, 2010 – MWH, the global wet infrastructure sector leader and provider of environmental engineering, construction and strategic consulting services, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works kicked off an annual six-week Public Works High School Internship Program (PWHIP).  This year, 63 local students are participating in the eighth annual internship program that runs through August.

 The Internship Program was created by MWH and the Board of Public Works in 2003 and has since reached more than 340 students from about 50 schools across Los Angeles.

“MWH is extremely proud of its involvement in the Public Works High School Internship Program as an extension of our ongoing partnership with the City of Los Angeles,” said Richard Plecker, vice president and Southwest regional manager for MWH.  “Through this program, we are making a difference in the lives of students and their families while also shaping the future of our industry.”

According to an estimate by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. will have a shortage of 70,000 engineers this year.  MWH and the Department of Public Works created the program to expose high school juniors and graduating seniors in Los Angeles to career options in architecture, engineering, construction management and environmental engineering.  The paid internship includes job training, educational workshops, field trips and exposure to the professional work environment.  The interns will be placed with more than 30 public-private partners or in departments within the City of Los Angeles.

This year, more than 420 applications were received for the Internship Program. The group was narrowed to an interview pool of 174 before the final 63 interns were selected.  In addition to submitting an online application and recommendation form, this year’s applicants were required to attend a job skills workshop to refine their interview techniques and learn more about the formal interview process.