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MDOT showcases 61 interns in fifth year of PAVE summer program
Summary
Mississippi Department of Transportation officials introduced 61 summer interns and outlined the fifth-year PAVE (Pursue, Advance, Value, Excel) program, which pairs students with divisions across MDOT to recruit and develop future staff.
The Mississippi Transportation Commission on June 26 heard staff introduce 61 summer interns in the fifth year of MDOT’s PAVE (Pursue, Advance, Value, Excel) internship program, with 47 interns present at the meeting and others joining site visits.
PAVE was created to recruit, retain and promote interns within MDOT. "This program was started 5 years ago for a way to recruit, retain, and promote our summer interns," said Jessica Dilly, who introduced the cohort. Dilly told commissioners the interns toured MDOT facilities and met division directors during a two-day orientation and would be placed across project offices, planning, materials and information systems divisions.
The interns who spoke gave their names, schools, majors and internship locations. Several said they were civil engineering majors placed in project offices and planning divisions; others are studying computer science, mechanical and electrical engineering and cybersecurity. MDOT noted the program intentionally hosts students from a range of schools, including Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). "We have 61 interns this summer and 47 of them were able to join us," Dilly said.
Commissioners and senior staff thanked the interns and encouraged them to consider MDOT careers. A senior official who addressed the group noted MDOT employs about 2,600 people and said the internship is an "induction class to become a full time employee." Staff members Christy Levy and Terrence Yarborough were recognized for organizing the visits and program events.
The commission did not take a formal vote concerning the internship program during the introductions; the segment was informational. The presentation concluded with commissioners and staff inviting interns to remain for site-visit briefings.
The PAVE program will continue through the summer with interns working in project offices statewide; MDOT staff encouraged interns who seek broader assignments to reach out to division leads for additional work opportunities.
