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Two WIU Ag Students Accepted to Internship Service Program

April 25, 2022

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MACOMB, IL – Two Western Illinois University School of Agriculture students are among eight statewide accepted into a new pre-service internship program through Richland Community College.

Junior agriculture education majors Luke Jesgarz, of Shelbyville, IL, and Laurel Keyt, of Hanna City, IL, were chosen for the program because they have committed to becoming a high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor after graduation.

Richland Community College is administering the nine-week summer internship program, which is designed to recruit and retain agricultural educators. The initiative was identified as a need by agriculture education organizations in Illinois and the Illinois State Board of Education as a way to address the teacher shortage.

The program helps potential teachers develop the pre-service technical skills teachers need to be successful.

"I am grateful for this opportunity to get more real-world experience before starting my career as an agriculture teacher," said Jesgarz. "I am glad to be given this insight into more of what goes into becoming an agriculture teacher."

Keyt said she is excited for the opportunity to help improve her skills as a future agriculture teacher, so she can inspire her future students.

"The more knowledge I can gain before I start teaching the better able I am to help my students receive a more rounded education and also give me the basic tools to help them explore their passions within the agriculture industry," she said.

For more information about the WIU School of Agriculture, visit wiu.edu/ag.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing