Introducing Hailee Weeks: Summer Office Assistant
In my opinion, one of the most overlooked areas in workforce development is internships. With so much emphasis on talent pipelines, training and certifications, the development of young people in the community often gets pushed to the back burner. But in Greeley, things look a little different. There is a strong focus on connecting education with workforce development; and it sure is making an impact.
Here, we have the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Career Explore Internship Program, which allows upcoming high school seniors to explore a career of their choice through local businesses or city-run facilities. With hundreds of students applying for a spot each year, this internship program continues to stand out as one of Greeley’s most impactful and successful education-to-workforce initiatives.
There’s a quote from the Greeley Schools website that truly spoke to me, especially as I am one of the hundreds of students who have gone through the program:
“A student’s pathway is their own unique map for their future; it [the internship] is one of their first opportunities for individual ownership of where they will go in life.”
That could not be truer. Without my initial internship through D6, the businesses that hired me afterward, and the direction of my career path and education, would not be the same.
In the summer of 2024, I interned with the Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce as their marketing intern. I had the opportunity to shadow different business units, see firsthand how vital networking is for building strong business relationships, and develop real-world marketing skills. That experience with the Chamber played a huge role in shaping my path, and it helped me realize that I want to focus the rest of my education and career on business.
After my time with the Chamber, I continued developing my skills through another District-6 opportunity: the JBS Better Futures Apprenticeship Program. JBS selected 14 students from District-6 for an eight-month apprenticeship, placing each of us in global business units aligned with our career interests. I was placed with Pilgrim’s Graphic Design department, where I gained hands-on experience and further developed my creative and professional abilities.
In the fall, I will be attending the University of Northern Colorado (Go Bears!) to earn my bachelor’s degree in marketing, while also working toward an associate degree in graphic design with AIMS Community College. Interning with local businesses not only helped shape my goals, but it also showed me how these opportunities can keep students rooted in their communities. By continuing their education at local institutions and building relationships with local organizations, students are more likely to stay, grow and contribute right here at home.
Without my initial experience in the District-6 Internship Program, I wouldn’t have had the foundation to grow my skills at JBS or the chance to return to the Chamber this summer as their office assistant (Yay!). To me, that’s exactly what these programs are all about: giving students the opportunity to become young professionals, gain real-world experience and eventually come back to contribute to the very organizations that first believed in them. That full-circle moment is proof of just how impactful internships can be, not only for individual students, but for the growth and strength of our entire community.
This blog was written by Hailee Weeks, 2025 Summer Office Assistant at the Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce.
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