Gallup McKinley Schools Launch Student Internships Connecting School To Careers

Gallup McKinley County Schools announced November 10, 2025 that the district Public Relations Department will host College Career and Civic Readiness interns this academic year. The release spotlights three senior students, Naomi Chee and Alivia Palacios of Miyamura High School, and Phillip Ramone of Thoreau High School, who will work on photography, video production, editing, and in the district print shop.

The announcement cited concrete student contributions to district communications. Naomi Chee provided photography for the district Elevate Magazine. Phillip Ramone appeared in a Cultural Heritage commercial. Alivia Palacios supplied voice work for a district radio advertisement. The district framed the placements as part of a broader effort to connect classroom instruction to career pathways and community engagement.

For local residents the program represents a visible example of schools shifting toward experiential learning that produces artifacts and skills employers can evaluate. Students gain portfolios in media production, technical experience in print operations, and exposure to public communication workflows. Those outcomes can help graduates seeking entry level positions in local media outlets, cultural organizations, and municipal communications offices. They also create materials the district can use to shape public information campaigns and community outreach.

Institutionally the program raises several policy questions school leaders and county policymakers should monitor. First, how will the district measure success beyond anecdotal examples? Clear metrics on internships completed, hours served, follow up employment or postsecondary enrollment would allow voters and board members to assess return on investment. Second, sustained programs require funding and staff capacity. School budget choices and priorities for career readiness influence how many students can access similar experiences in future years.

There are civic implications as well. Work placements in district communications build media literacy among young people and expose students to civic messaging processes. That experience may increase civic engagement and informed participation in community affairs. At the same time, it is important that such programs include safeguards against undue political messaging and ensure student work aligns with educational objectives.

For McKinley County voters the initiative intersects with broader debates over education funding and workforce development. Demonstrable pathways from high school to local jobs can bolster public support for allocating resources to career and technical education. Conversely, without transparent outcome reporting, voters will face difficulty judging program effectiveness when budget decisions arise in school board races and municipal forums.

Gallup McKinley County Schools framing of the internships as part of career readiness reflects a national trend toward applied learning. Local officials and community stakeholders now have an opportunity to track outcomes, align industry partners, and ensure the program expands equitably across high schools in the county.