News Releases - 2000

Governor's Environmental Corps Summer 2000 Internship Applications Now Being Sought for “Hands On” Learning

Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Governor George H. Ryan announced today that applications will be accepted through March 31 for this summer’s Governor’s Environmental Corps internship program.

Established in 1991, the GEC program is a unique partnership between state government and Illinois corporations whose sponsorship contributions pay the salaries and expenses of college students who participate in the nine-week program.

"The goal of the GEC program is to deliver a ‘hands on’ learning experience for college undergraduate or graduate students currently pursuing degrees in such fields of study as engineering, geology, chemistry, biology and law," said Illinois EPA Director Tom Skinner.

This year’s GEC program will run from June 1-August 4, 2000, with about 40 positions statewide expected to be available. The majority of the slots will be in Springfield where Illinois EPA’s headquarters office, organics laboratory and central regional office are located. However, positions will also be available in regional offices in Rockford, Maywood, Peoria, Champaign, Collinsville and Marion.

Applications can now be downloaded from the Illinois EPA’s Internet web site at www.epa.state.il.us, or are available by contacting Pam Thull at 217-524-9419. The deadline for submitting application packages is March 31, 2000.

Salaries for the full-time nine week internship have been set at $7.25 per hour.

Students are paired with agency mentors in their area of environmental interest, and are able to make meaningful contributions to the regulatory and compliance assistance operations of Illinois EPA.

In addition to gaining work experience in a professional office setting and field operations, GEC interns also participate in regular field trips and workshops designed to provide first hand-knowledge of current environmental challenges and solutions, as well as career opportunities.

Interns stationed in the Springfield area can also participate as instructors in the Junior Governor’s Environmental Corps, an environmental awareness and education program reaching hundreds of children in central Illinois each year.

The GEC program now has about 320 alumni from the first eight years of the program.