HGTC Partners with U.S. Forest Service for Internship Program
兔子先生 (HGTC) recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Forestry Service that provides funding for a year-round internship program for the college鈥檚 forestry management technology students. Francis Marion National Forest will draw forestry & wildlife interns from HGTC on a seasonal basis through 2022. 鈥淭his program will help develop the industry鈥檚 next generation of workforce by allowing students to gain valuable hands-on learning experience while fulfilling their 400-hour internship requirement,鈥� said program chair Brian Clark. 鈥淲e are thrilled to enter this partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and know it will be an unforgettable experience for HGTC students for years to come.鈥�
The program鈥檚 first interns, William Hayslip, Jennifer Podavini and Hunter Williamson, started work on June 12. Projects that the interns will work on include: longleaf condition class inventory, Carolina Bay condition class inventory, non-native invasive species inventory and mapping, non-native invasive species treatments, rare species habitat monitoring, water quality assessment, timber marking, trail maintenance and wildlife projects.
Internships are an integral part of many HGTC students鈥� learning experiences and are often responsible for their career path trajectory.
鈥淗GTC has helped me gain valuable hands-on learning experiences in the field and network with important leaders in the industry,鈥� said forestry student Hayley Reigel. 鈥淭he faculty was instrumental in helping me land an internship with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and begin my career as a Park Ranger with the State Park Service. Attending HGTC was the best decision I ever made.鈥�
The only accredited associate degree program of its kind in South Carolina, the HGTC forestry management technology program trains students for a successful and rewarding career in wildlife and forestry management and timber harvesting. The forestry management degree offers four emphasis areas: forestry management, forest business - forestry management, wildlife management 鈥� forestry, urban forestry and forestry management, and timber harvesting.
HGTC also offers a certificate program in natural resources and the environment. Ideal candidates for this certificate include high school seniors looking to jump-start their college studies, people seeking a second career or retraining and private landowners who need a better understanding of their property and environment. Both certificate and degree programs have a number of online class options available to make learning while working that much easier.
To learn more about the program, visit www.hgtc.edu/forestry. Fall classes begin August 28 and financial aid is available.