News

Aquarium Internship Provides Fascinating Learning Experience

If you visit the South Carolina Aquarium during the holiday season, make sure to keep an eye out for our PCA intern, Graham Eller. Graham, a junior with a keen interest in marine animals, is dedicated to enlightening the public about these fascinating creatures. His future plans involve pursuing a college degree in Marine Biology.

When asked about his responsibilities at the Aquarium, Graham says,”Some of my tasks at the aquarium are answering questions people might have about the animals or the exhibits and taking visitors on tour around the aquarium. The most interesting thing I have done is taking people on behind the scenes tours of the big tanks and teaching them about how the aquarium works."

Graham's internship covers all areas of the aquarium from teaching with the Animal Ambassadors, working the indoor and outdoor touch tanks, running the Trading Post, and sharing about the Great Ocean Tank. Graham feels he has learned the most about the impact of the environment on animals, while strengthening his communication and problem solving skills.

 If you are a junior or senior interested in pursuing an internship, the process starts in the Spring of your Sophomore or Junior year in your Individual Graduation Plan meeting with your academic counselor. Some students know exactly where they want to work and others are open to a few different career fields. The Counseling office can help you focus your career interest and assist you in making contacts for your internship within our PCA network. Working as an intern shows you're interested in taking on responsibility and learning new things, and can help you stand out from other college applicants or lead to job offers after graduation.

PCA Students Attend Leadership and Ethics Conference

Juniors Will Perkins and Joseph Terry were selected to represent PCA at the Service Academy Leadership & Ethics Conference for Charleston County schools last Thursday. Graduates from the nation's military service academies partnered for this event with retired state senator Mike Rose to inspire leadership and ethical behavior among high school students. Speakers included LTC (Ret.) Kent Selby - Director Of Operations at KBR Careers, Joshua Dix - Government Affairs Director for Charleston Association of Realtors, Captain Scott McGinnis - former Command Officer of Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, and Ryan Cass - Senior Management at The Boeing Company. Each speaker closed by presenting the students with a real world dilemma from their field that required a decision. The students worked in small groups to develop a plan and present their solutions. The day ended with group challenges aimed at helping students identify different leadership styles and helping the students develop their list of personal values & goals.

Will Perkins says it was a very meaningful experience, "The event was a fantastic opportunity that not only allowed me personally to meet several either impressive or important persons, but also, I believe, inspired many of those present to pause and look at things that they may not normally consider.”

Fellow attendee Joseph Terry agrees, “I enjoyed the great team building exercises and leadership talks that were given. Having lunch and meeting student leaders from around the Charleston area was really good too”.