HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The City of Harrisonburg was named a Virginia Top Employer for Interns by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (VTOP) at a ceremony on Tuesday, May 6, at James Madison University. The annual award celebrates Virginia employers who provide high-quality internships to college students. Some of the noteworthy efforts of employers recognized at the event include exposing interns to senior leaders, structured mentorship programs, housing allowances, paid time off, security clearances and training for industry certifications.

Harrisonburg’s internship opportunities are overseen by the Department of Human Resources, which works closely with City departments interested in working with an intern for the semester. Human Resources Deputy Director Marissa Keagy and Senior Human Resources Generalist Chase Martin were recognized for their work at the awards banquet this week.

“It is essential that college students have exposure to the breadth of opportunities created in local government – from complex public policy analysis, the intricate operations of an emergency communications center, to mapping watershed events,” Harrisonburg Human Resources Director Angela Clem said in a press release. “The City of Harrisonburg is proud to offer the structured opportunity for students to connect with mentors and leaders in the local government field, where many have continued their professional journey within public administration. I greatly appreciate the partnership with VTOP-Valley Internship Experience Workgroup (VIEW), and the hard work of our Human Resources team and City departments.”

City internships, as well as part-time and full-time positions, can be found online at http://harrisonburgva.gov/employment.