EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The War Eagles Air Museum in Dona Ana County is offering a unique internship program that allows young students to engage with history in a hands-on manner.
The museum, known for its historic fleet of restored aircraft and lifelike era pilots, provides an immersive experience for interns.
José Antonio Talamas, special projects coordinator at the museum, said, “I dress up because in my past life I was in the military and I tried to bring that part of history to life. I’m still in my 20s, so I’m very much close to the age. I’ve done a lot of the guys that through these aircraft are operating, these vehicles are.”
The internship program, part of the Doña Ana County initiative, offers a variety of options tailored to students’ interests, from medical fields to hands-on experiences. Dakota Lloyd, a store associate and former intern, explained, “They essentially made something up to where it’s fit to your liking, so they have a ton of options for you that are more, very specific, very broad.”
Lloyd and Ever Ramirez, both former interns now employed at the museum, reflected on the valuable lessons learned. Lloyd noted, “This helped build the building blocks, the simple needs you need to have a job alone, things like deadlines, things like dates, things just being on top of chores and what not.” Ramirez added, “It’s a great opportunity that the Doña Ana County basically offers these type of programs because it really introduces you to the real world during or after your high school years.”
The program not only provides practical skills but also encourages continuous learning. Lloyd shared, “I’m not too experienced with knowledge of planes here, but I do have some background knowledge of a few of them, and so they encourage me if they want some help with it, I can answer questions.”
For Ramirez, who is currently a college student, the internship has been instrumental in developing life skills. “This internship really basically helps me on developing my skills, on developing my knowledge in many aspects of life,” he said.
The Dona Ana County internship program is available every summer for students aged 16 and older, offering a comprehensive experience that combines education with enjoyment. As Lloyd put it, “And it’s a lot of fun too. You get good experience, you meet people, you meet new friends. It’s something that is just a full circle package.”
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