Recognizing the value of recruiting and retaining diverse talent, including increasing engagement and visibility among historically underserved high schools in its operating area, Oklahoma Natural Gas, a division of ONE Gas, recently piloted an internship program focusing on field operations and specifically designed for high school students.
Oklahoma Natural Gas created the program to introduce high school students and recent high school graduates to the natural gas industry while providing them with real-world experience that prepares them for future employment. It included current students and recent graduates from Tulsaarea schools.
Working as a group, the interns rotated through 12 field operations departments ranging from customer service and construction to fleet maintenance, where they were exposed to valuable networking and mentorship opportunities with Oklahoma Natural Gas employees. Each morning, students received an overview of the department they would be observing and then headed into the field. In the afternoon, students were brought back to the office to talk with leadership about their experiences and provide feedback. They worked 18 hours per week during the six-week program, which counted toward the work-based learning requirements necessary for graduation.
To launch the program, Oklahoma Natural Gas partnered with Tulsa Public Schools, collaborating with school staff and conducting classroom presentations to allow students to learn more about the program. After a successful launch, Oklahoma Natural Gas then expanded the internship program and opened it to surrounding Tulsa-area high schools.
“We learned a lot through this pilot, including understanding more about some of the barriers that historically underserved high school students may face, such as access to transportation,” Dene Roseburr-Olotu, director of inclusion and diversity, told American Gas. “We found that these students were engaged and that their values aligned with our organization.”
Oklahoma Natural Gas plans to continue the program with a similar target of students while also exploring the program in another market. Once confident that the internship has the right structure, the utility says it plans to expand the program as well as the variety of students recruited.
“Our high school internship program has been a great way for students to gain insight into jobs in energy and our company culture to see if they would like a career with us,” Roseburr-Olotu said. “We’re committed to expanding our prospective talent pool, and this program allows us to do just that. We’re looking forward to continuing and growing this program in the future.”