A year ago, this past January, MAP Environmental contacted Allison Graves, the Academy Senior Project Advisor at Ocean Lakes High School, to see if we could partner with them to provide a mentorship opportunity for an Academy student. At the time, our goal was to provide an educational opportunity for a future leader, while simultaneously exploring the feasibility of a business application. Little did we realize what an incredible mutually beneficial experience it would end up being.

After initiating the process to review resumes, interview a candidate and sign all the necessary paperwork, our student intern, Aveline K. began her experience with us by conducting preparation research in June, and was working part time in our office by the beginning of July 2017. In the two months that Aveline worked with us she was able to obtain training in environmental consulting basics, business office procedures, experience multiple site visits and field work and completed a feasibility study on a customer service application that our company had been interested in implementing. Aveline completed her experience with us by presenting her feasibility study to our team and posting a final blog on the MAP website about her experience. However, the academic side of her mentorship was just beginning.

As part of the senior project, Academy students are required to create a full presentation of their mentorship experience at Ocean Lakes in front of peers and the Academy Advisor. On Monday, March 19^th Myles and I attended Aveline’s presentation at the Ocean Lakes High School Schola and see for ourselves the final “product” and learn what the experience was like for her. The presentation that we experienced was not only professionally and artistically well done, but also truly impressively well presented. Aveline presented both a visual and verbal presentation that rivaled many business presentations that I have experienced over the years. At MAP, it’s an honor and a privilege to be a part of a mentorship experience, and we as a company look forward to continuing our relationship with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools as a Partner in Education.