Last week, U.S. Engineering celebrated National Intern Day and recognized the future business and community leaders on our team. In turn, the interns decided to spend their day giving back to future interns by serving at a Boys & Girls Club in Kansas City and delivering donated backpacks filled with school supplies to Denver Public Schools.

Midwest Region

Interns in the Kansas City office spent the day with 5th- through 8th-grade students at an area Boys & Girls Club. Interns participated in group and individual activities with the students, including “popcorn” reading (taking turns reading pages from a book), constructing erupting volcanoes for an upcoming science fair, practicing telling time and counting money, doing math problems, and talking about the process of applying to jobs. Some of the interns even got to re-live their middle school days and attend a game of kickball at recess with the kids.

Perhaps most importantly, the interns took time to ask kids individually about their goals for the future and provided advice on how to achieve them. They spoke with students about the benefits of education, telling their own personal stories and encouraging the students to continue to work hard in school in order to meet their goals.

Rocky Mountain Region

The U.S. Engineering Rocky Mountain interns led the participation in the 17^th Annual Denver Public Schools (DPS) “Stuff the Bus” backpack drive. In this effort, backpacks filled with necessary supplies were donated to DPS to benefit children in need and help them start off the school year equipped with tools for learning.

First, the interns got together and set a goal: 125 backpacks filled with all necessary school supplies were to be donated to DPS. Once they set a goal and determined the amount of each school supply, the interns researched various vendors and websites to find where supplies could be purchased in large quantities for reasonable prices. After vendors were selected and the cost of each supply was found, the fundraising began.

The entire Rocky Mountain team stepped up to the plate. Interns went around the office and collected enough supplies and donations to donate 125 backpacks, reaching their goal. The team then organized the supplies by type and filled the backpacks assembly-line-style, just before delivering them to Denver Public Schools.

U.S. Engineering is proud to have interns that choose to serve others on a day meant to celebrate and recognize them. Thanks to the interns for taking the time to help prepare students for the coming school year and beyond!