Irrigation Foundation offers internship support

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Irrigation Foundation has partnered with Andy’s Sprinkler and Drainage (Carrollton, Texas) and Heads Up Landscape Contractors (Albuquerque, N.M.) to subsidize the housing costs for six irrigation students who will gain hands-on industry experience during a 12-week summer internship.

The internship will give students the opportunity to work directly with irrigation technicians to repair, install and maintain landscape irrigation systems. The Foundation launched the pilot program in an effort to learn more about existing internship programs for irrigation professionals and to determine ways in which it can help bridge the gap between higher learning and employment opportunities.

“I think it is vital for students to get their feet wet in the vast changing market for irrigation,” said Tyler Maly, an irrigation intern at Heads Up Landscape Contractors. “When working with a well-respected company like Heads Up, you can learn from many different people inside the business.”

Both partner companies have long-established internship programs and often recruit new hires from past internship classes. The following students were selected to participate in the Foundation’s pilot internship program:

• Brooks Creech, University of Arkansas (Andy’s)
• Dusty Hayes, Oklahoma State University (Andy’s)
• Robert MacInnis, Mississippi State University (Andy’s)
• Tyler Maly, Oklahoma State University (Heads Up)
• Sheldon Shelly, Texas A&M University (Andy’s)
• Will Stockton, Mississippi State University (Andy’s)

For more information on Foundation activities, visit www.irrigationfoundation.org.