Cumberland County Summer Internship Opportunities Now Open For Students

School is out and summer vacation has begun for the students of Cumberland County! In anticipation of the season, the Cumberland County Government Human Resources is now looking for students who wish to participate in the 2024 Cumberland County summer internship programs.

Summer internships are an extremely useful way to acclimate older high school and college students to adult life. These programs provide young adults with the tools and resources they'll need after high school and college to seek rewarding careers in the field of their choice.

I can personally attest to the effectiveness of similar internship programs. My 2015 internship at a Raleigh radio cluster provided me a wealth of firsthand experience working at a radio station on a professional level, and helped establish valuable relationships with those who helped me forge my path in radio broadcasting.

Fittingly, the Cumberland County HR department has introduced the theme of this summer's internship program: "Ignite: Fueling Passion, Fostering Growth."

The Cumberland County Summer Internship program is available for high school juniors and seniors, as well as college students. As this news release explains, high school students can receive "a paid internship, mentorship and leadership skills training." The program also promises many exciting opportunities for hands-on experience across different career fields. High school students who apply must be a "Junior or Senior in good standing", and at least 16 years of age.

Similarly, internships for college students will provide extensive career skills development as well as networking opportunities that can serve them well as they enter the workforce. This is available to students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies in an accredited college or university, or recent graduates from within the past 12 months.

While the details of both internships will vary depending on which department students are placed in, but by and large their key duties and responsibilities will include:

Both internship programs offer 20-hour work weeks throughout the summer with an hourly wage of $15.

College students can apply for the college internship program here. Likewise, high school students can submit their applications for the high school internship here.

Both applications require a resume detailing academic achievements and relevant work experience. Students will also need to provide a cover letter explaining why they would be the perfect choice for the program.

U.S. News & World Report has released their new Best Places to Live rankings for 2024-2025, and the Tar Heel state got some major love! In a list of 150 major cities, two North Carolina cities were ranked among the top 10 best places to live in the US.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the ranking was compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI, the U.S. Department of Labor, and some of the publication's own internal resources. The data was then sorted into four different categories by which each major city would be scored.

The categories were assigned different weights depending on how strongly Americans felt each factor mattered when choosing a place to live. The four categories in order of weight are as follows:

According to the official rankings, Charlotte and Raleigh are the two best places to live in North Carolina. The two cities made it to #5 and #6 respectively.

Charlotte scored extremely well overall, with the Queen City's quality of life and economic value placing it among the top places in the country to live. Charlotte was also commended for its sprawling metro area and bustling downtown scene, while still maintaining its southern charm.

Raleigh ranked almost neck-and-neck with Charlotte, with North Carolina's capital scoring highly in the Quality of Life category. The publication highlights Raleigh's bustling art and music scenes, as well as its beautiful green spaces and activity space. The city of Raleigh also received high marks for its strong sense of community among the residents.

The full rankings (seen here) reveals some interesting information about other major cities in the US, including other cities in North Carolina. Here are some of the key takeaways.

Ranked #1 overall, Naples, Florida was determined to be the best city to live in the US. The city scored highly for its overall quality of life, especially among retirees who desire a pristine beachfront view in their twilight years.

It's certainly a surprising #2, but Boise, Idaho has much to offer for outdoorsy types. Boise offers a plethora of different terrains for adventurers, including mountain ranges, canyons, deserts and lakes.

Colorado Springs, Colorado was ranked as the #3 best place to live for its blend of natural beauty and rustic modernism. Despite its endless array of events and activities, Colorado Springs maintains a small town charm that residents find intoxicating.

North Carolina's sister state did just a hair better in the ranking, with the South Carolina city of Greenville landing at #4 in the overall ranking. Greenville's downtown area is a central hub for local businesses, bars, restaurants and boutiques. The city is also quite lively during the summer season.

- Asheville (#17)

-Greensboro (#23) 

-Hickory (#26)

-Winston-Salem (#60)

-Fayetteville (#113)