AUSTIN – The second class of the Samsung Austin Semiconductor interns from Taylor High School officially finished their training with a ceremony.
The plant hosted a celebration Friday, July 21, for the interns’ last day of the six-week internship in the main fab lobby. The 24 Taylor High School interns were honored, received a certificate and had family and supervisors in attendance.
Michele Glaze, Samsung’s head of communications and event host, believes the student internships are something worth celebrating.
“We want them to feel valued for the time they spent here at Samsung,” Glaze said. “We want them to recognize that working is important, building a career is important and we want them to consider coming back to Samsung.”
While the celebration was held in the Austin location, several familiar Taylor faces spoke at the event. Outgoing Taylor ISD Superintendent Devin Padavil, school board President Marco Ortiz, Mayor Brandt Rydell and County Judge Bill Gravell were all present.
Gravell, who was the driving force of the Taylor ISD-specific internship program, challenged the interns to use what they have learned to strive for great heights.
“My question is which of you will step up to the plate and replace us,” Gravell said. “The next great leader for Samsung and for Williamson County sits within this room.”
Abigail Aplin, an intern, found it extremely special that so many Taylor leaders showed up for their last day on the job. Aplin is an incoming senior and worked in the environmental health and safety department.
“It kind of felt like we were going to meet the president,” Aplin said. “We were being honored so much just because we did an internship, which is crazy because we don’t see it like that. We’re just high schoolers.”
While some Taylor residents have been skeptical of how Samsung will impact the town, intern Melanie Badillo thinks it will help future classes of Taylor students greatly.
“Taylor ISD is getting so many grants that they’re going to use,” Badillo said. “It’s very helpful.”
She expects an increase in job opportunities for Taylor residents. Badillo is an incoming senior who worked in the communications department.
During the internship, students worked 40 hours a week in various departments. The internship application began in the fall.
While it’s unknown how many of the interns will return to Samsung after graduating, intern Sofía Olguín thinks this work experience will set them up well for the future in more ways than just on a resume.
Olguín is also an incoming senior who worked in the environmental health and safety department during her internship.
“Having this work experience is going to set us up so well for the future,” Olguín said. “We’re high schoolers, we didn’t really understand what it was like to be in an actual work environment.”
