By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
MUSD students gain valuable work experience with summer internship
MUSD Summer Interns
From left, Kamaria Wilson, Sarah Vargas, and Stephanie Okolo are summer interns in Manteca Unified Nutrition Services. They were at Thursday’s Seamless Summer barbecue lunch at Apolinar Sangalang Park, initiating various activities for Lathrop youngsters in attendance. - photo by VINCE REMBULAT

Kamaria Wilson is in her second year as an intern for Manteca Unified Nutrition Services.

The Sierra High junior enjoyed leading children in various activities at the parks in the school district that serves up the daily free lunches.

She also had fun helping out with the farmers’ markets — students received a shopping bag containing “Nutritional Education Dollars” good for three items at the stand featuring fresh produce — and the four-day summer camp for students with Type 1 Diabetes.

“The (summer camp) made me more aware about diabetes,” she said at last week’s barbecue lunch at Lathrop’s Apolinar Sangalang Park.

She’s joined this year in Nutrition Services by incoming seniors Sarah Vargas from East Union High and Stephanie Okolo from Sierra.

Okolo was in the MUSD Summer Internship Program a year ago, helping out in the Industrial Technology Department.

This year, she had a different work experience, consisting of playing and interacting with children during the daily lunch, barbecue, and farmers market events.

Wilson got to engage in outdoor fun and games for work. 

Ditto that for Vargas, who is being employed for the first time — MUSD students in the program are paid for their service.

“I’ve met a ton of amazing people,” she said of her time thus far in Nutrition Services.

Supervisor Josie Contreras noted that those in the summer internship program have “opportunities to build up some work experience.”

She added: “They do a lot.”

Her interns, in addition, will do office work including filing, bagging lunches, and assisting in the upcoming Back to School Nights.

Nutrition Services is nearing the end of the Seamless Summer Lunch program — the last day is Friday, July 21 — for those between the ages of 2 through 18. The meals are free but must be consumed on the premises.

Wilson, Vargas, and Okolo are looking forward to the final farmers’ market of the summer at Woodward Community Park on Thursday morning beginning at 11 o’clock.

More information on the summer meal program can be obtained at: https://bit.ly/3youcew.