CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — Cape May County Commissioner Melanie Collette highlighted the success of the county’s internship program during the board’s meeting Aug 12.
Eighteen interns were chosen to participate in the 2025 program, through which they gained professional experience in their chosen fields of study.
The Cape May County Internship Program is designed to provide local college-level students with valuable work experience in county government over a broad range of public services to prepare them for a potential career in the public sector.
Prospective candidates have the opportunity to work temporarily in a short-term capacity during the summer, spring or fall season/semester as a county intern in a variety of departments.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to investing in the future of our community, I’m proud to share an update on Cape May County’s comprehensive internship program,” Collette said. “This initiative offers college students — who are currently enrolled in relevant fields of study — a unique opportunity to gain meaningful, real-world experience within county government.”
Each intern receives a $2,500 stipend in exchange for 150 hours of service, helping to ease the financial burden often associated with early career development.
More importantly, the program fosters the next generation of public servants and professionals — many of whom attend our local colleges and universities.
“The internship program offers participants a unique opportunity to explore their future professional options,” Collette said. “Just as importantly, these students learn the value of public service while working with a team committed to delivering excellent services to Cape May County residents.”
The county works in partnership with various higher-education institutions, as well as the Cape May County Technical High School, to offer internships in finance, planning, engineering, information technology, the Prosecutor’s Office, Parks and Zoo, and county legal counsel, among others.
Commission Director Len Desiderio presented certificates of achievement to the participants present and praised the success of the comprehensive internship program.
“We are thrilled with the success of the internship program and the level of interest shown by local students in seeking careers in service of our residents,” Desiderio said. “This program offers students a real-life experience in their chosen fields of study and a valuable opportunity to learn from the experience of our caring and professional staff.”
The county recommends prospective candidates consult with their college or university in advance of making an application to determine if the county’s internship opportunity will qualify for applicable curriculum credits.
“We encourage interested students to reach out to county administration to learn more about our internship program,” Collette said. “It’s a smart investment in our future and one we are proud to support. We hope to continue to expand these opportunities for our promising, local students.”
Additional information on the internship program, including how to apply can be found at capemaycountynj.gov.
