USDA and the HACU National Internship Program: A Recipe for Success

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USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Keven Valentin, AMS Commodity Procurement Financial Analyst, on August 23, 2013 at 10:45 AM

AMS Commodity Procurement Financial Analyst Keven Valentin, a former HACU intern at work. Valentin was an intern with AMS for two years through the HACU National Internship Program. Photo Courtesy of Hakim Fobia, AMS Public Affairs

Reach one, teach one. That is the approach that USDA has taken in its partnership with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) National Internship Program. As a current employee with the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and a former HACU intern, I am glad to help continue this tradition.

The HACU National Internship Program helps talented students in more than 400 colleges and universities gain valuable experience through paid internships at federal, private, and non-profit organizations. USDA has been a leading organization working with the program, hosting nearly 1900 HACU student interns since 1994. I am part of the nearly 46% of former HACU interns who earned the opportunity to stay on board with the federal government after finishing my degree.

I accepted the opportunity to continue my career at the USDA after two eventful summers interning with the AMS Commodity Procurement Program. During my tenure as an intern, I applied what I learned in my education and work experience. My time was spent helping develop and implement a new budget tracking system, overlooking a $2.6 million budget, developing budget procedures, and providing support to the daily branch operations. I also got a chance to help develop and implement a new invoicing process using the new Web Based Supply Chain Management System (WBSCM). The WBSCM is now used by AMS to make purchases for the National School Lunch Program and other federal nutrition assistance programs.

As I look back on my experience as a HACU intern working at AMS, I really appreciate the way the program works with USDA and other organizations. After applying for the program through my school, the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla Campus, HACU placed me in an organization and position that matched my educational background. Working with the Commodity Procurement staff turned out to be a great fit for me.

AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo with students at the 2013 HACU National Internship Program summer farewell event. Photo courtesy of Karen Comfort, AMS Special Assistant to the Administrator

Looking to the future, I am confident that other HACU interns will have similar experiences at USDA and other partner organizations. I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2013 HACU National Internship Program summer farewell event where AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo inspired all. She gave the keynote address alongside Principal Deputy Under Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs Robert L. Jesse. It was great to hear Administrator Alonzo encourage the interns to be fearless as they carve out their career paths. She also stressed that they can achieve anything when they are passionate about the fields they choose.

I am glad to hear that my office will be welcoming two talented HACU interns this fall. I am excited to be able to share with them my positive experiences and encourage them to tell others about the program’s success with AMS and other USDA agencies. I know that the internship will place them on track for long, fruitful careers and that they will help others follow in their footsteps.

Taking the Summer On: AMS Interns Gain Valuable Experience

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USDA Blog Post:

Posted by Anne Alonzo, AMS Administrator, on August 21, 2013 at 2:40 PM

AMS interns at the USDA Internship Meeting at USDA Headquarters. During their internship, they met with senior USDA officials, including AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo (first row in the center with black coat and white dress).

Without farmers and the agricultural businesses that support them, no one can eat. This is a simple concept, but it implies that people will continue to choose careers in agriculture. Here at USDA, one of the ways that we encourage younger generations to choose these careers is offering grants to institutions that offer agricultural curriculums. 

Through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA enables students to expand their knowledge of the agricultural industry. NIFA provides grants to schools such as the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) through the Hispanic Serving Institutions Program. This allows these institutions to offer top-notch agricultural curriculums.

This year, six students from UPRM’s Center for Education and Training in Agricultural Related Sciences (CETARS) Program interned with my agency, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The program, which is directed by Dr. Felix Roman, offers research assistantships and other support to students in agriculture and related fields. The goal is for the students to land a position at USDA or other agriculture businesses after they graduate. These talented undergraduate and graduate students had a busy summer. I would like you to hear what they said about their internship:

Ruben Morales, Junior at UPRM studying Agricultural Engineering, interned with AMS Dairy Programs Marketing Order Operation Branch

I enjoyed going to Capitol Hill for the Future Leaders Conference hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI). It was awesome to be among hundreds of young people who are aspiring to be leaders in the government and private sector. We heard about job opportunities from large corporations like Ford, Google, and several government agencies. We got a chance to take a picture with US House Representative David Valadao, a first generation Portuguese dairy farmer from California. This moment inspired us all, showing that the sky is the limit if you put forth a lot of hard work and are dedicated to whatever you do.

Elena Flores, PhD Student at UPRM studying Applied Chemistry, Interned with AMS National Science Laboratory

I really enjoyed getting a chance to work in the chemical residue, food and dairy, and microbiology labs. I helped verify that food labels are correct and that the foods are of an acceptable quality. I really think that my experience will help me out in my research project at school, which is analyzing local foods. 

In addition to this great experience, I really enjoyed getting a chance to visit with Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) Executive Director Juan E. Hernandez Mayoral. During our meeting, we told him that CETARS does a lot of work to incorporate foods from gardens into the School Lunch Program. Mayoral told us that he would put us in contact with the First Lady of Puerto Rico, who is interested in these types of projects. Working on a project like this with the First Lady would make a real impact on my community in Puerto Rico.   

Andrea Lopez-Rodriguez, Senior Student at UPRM studying Agricultural Science and Mechanical Engineering, Interned with AMS Seed Regulatory Testing Division

This was my first internship and it really blew away all of my expectations. One of the highlights of the summer was meeting Deputy Chief of Staff Oscar Gonzales and Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Ed Avalos. Both of these officials took time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. They shared some stories about how they got to their current positions, telling us to work hard and follow our dreams. This meant a lot to us.

Wesley Cuadrado-Castillo, Master’s Degree Student at UPRM studying Mechanical Engineering, Interned with AMS Transportation and Marketing Program

I spent most of my time this summer analyzing the heat and ventilation system of a food hub. Ultimately, the information that we find out can be used as a model for other food hubs preparing to become operational. It was great to apply some of the concepts that I am learning in school.

Jenifier Olavarría-Fullerton, PhD Candidate December 2013 at UPRM studying Applied Chemistry, Interned with AMS National Science Laboratory

The entire summer was a great experience where I learned a lot: from receiving samples to preparing them and going through analysis. The food analysis we were performing helps make sure that products purchased in the supermarket are within acceptable standards, valuable information for the companies using AMS services and for the consumers buying these products.

Susej Maldonado, Junior at University of UPRM studying Agricultural Science, Interned with the AMS Science and Technology Program Plant Variety Protection Office

During the summer, I got a chance to help make sure that new plant varieties entered into our database were distinct and I also really enjoyed meeting AMS Administrator Anne Alonzo. In addition to her current position, she has been an executive at Kraft and a Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Commerce Department, but she is still very personable. It meant a lot to see how much she cared about us interning with the agency.

Back in Puerto Rico, CETARS students are already helping cultivate the next generation of agricultural leaders. As part of the program, many of the students engage in outreach activities that encourage kids to choose agricultural degrees. We hope that they continue in their endeavors and that others will follow in their footsteps.

I am thankful for all their valuable contributions this summer and hope that they will consider positions within the agency when they finish their studies.

AMS interns at Capitol Hill with US House Representative David Valadao during the Congressional Hispanic Institute Future Leaders Conference.