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Growing Young Talent

by Ann Marie Connolly

Interns get on-the-job training through innovative summer program.

If you visited the seminary's Business Office this summer, you may have noticed two new faces. Thanks to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, and with the philanthropic support of Plante Moran, PLLC, the seminary retained two summer interns through the Grow Detroit's Young Talent (GDYT) program. GDYT is a six-week employment program that combines work-readiness training with on-the-job experiences, designed to prepare Detroiters, age 14-24, for the workforce.

Our interns, Jay'la Logan (left in photo) and Talicia Wyatt, were assigned administrative responsibilities, ranging from file maintenance, email communications, and student mailings, to web-based scholarship research and job description preparation. In addition, they attended team meetings and shadowed seminary personnel, learning about the organizational structure of a higher education institution. As a resource for prospective employment, the interns were encouraged to prepare a portfolio of their work, including a personal resume and cover letter.

Jayla, age eighteen, is attending Western Michigan University this fall. She plans to study business administration and hopes to one day become a lawyer. When asked about her favorite assignment at the seminary, she responded that she enjoyed helping the business manager, Matt Pop, with vendor payment mailings. In addition, she was grateful to the financial aid office for helping her to complete her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Talicia, age sixteen, is a student at Hazel Park High School. Last year, she participated in academic games, an educational program in which students compete in answering scholastic trivia questions. This year, she aspires to join the swim team. Talicia was most helpful to seminary staff in reorganizing seminary supply rooms and assisting with records retention policy compliance work.

Seminary administration and staff enjoyed working with both young women and hopes that their time at Sacred Heart provided them with meaningful work experiences, which they may draw upon in their future work lives and help them to grow as professionals.

Ann Marie Connolly

Ann Marie Connolly is director of finance and treasurer at Sacred Heart.

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Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a Christ-centered Catholic community of faith and higher learning committed to forming leaders who will proclaim the good news of Christ to the people of our time. As a leading center of the New Evangelization, Sacred Heart serves the needs of the Archdiocese of Detroit and contributes to the mission of the universal Church.