Elmont students learn from local businesses

By REI WolFsoHN Intern

Local students are learning about local business from mentors and by working with clientele this summer as part of the inaugural Gift of Giving Student Ambassador program.

Nine students are participating in the sixweek hands-on internship. Interns are paid through Gift of Giving Corporation at no cost to the business.

“They wanted to take on something different and challenge themselves this summer,” program director Elizabeth Forbes said.

Forbes continues to raise money to pay interns for their work through the Gift of Giving fundraising process. Six businesses or civic offices stepped up to participate in the program.

“It’s great to see that when you reach a certain level in life, you still want to give back,” Forbes said.

Ahmed Zaky of A2Z Auto Masters wants to give back. He has high school senior Andrew Forbes and sophomore Zyddon Powell interning with him this summer.

“I’ve been with the program since it first started, so I’d like to stay with the program,” Zaky said. “And help as many boys and girls as we can.”

Throughout the internship, Andrew and Powell learned from Zaky how to work with customers and service cars with oil changes, tire changes and replacing motors.

“He’s a good teacher,” Andrew said.

The internship has solidified Andrew’s ambition to enter the auto repair field. He learned about the program from his guidance counselor.

Additionally, he credits the program with the improvement of his communication skills.

“The program is nice. It taught me a lot of communication skills,” Andrew said.

Summit Physical Therapy is providing incoming college student Linsey Swift with an internship to assist her with learning to better communicate with the public and provide physical therapy to patients. While studying what physical therapists do, Swift has enjoyed an education about muscles and nerves.

“I help with creating the hot packs and help

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