PARSIPPANY — Friday, June 19, was a bittersweet day at Parsippany Town Hall as approximately 16 student interns completed the final day of the township’s five-week summer internship program. Over the course of the program, each student dedicated approximately 80 hours gaining firsthand experience in local government, public service, and the business community while working alongside municipal employees and community leaders.
The expansion of the internship program was the brainchild of Council Vice President Diya Patel, who worked with educators and township officials to increase the number of students participating. Patel envisioned a program that would provide more students with meaningful exposure to local government and public service while offering hands-on experience in a variety of municipal departments. Her efforts helped grow the program into an opportunity that now allows dozens of students to gain real-world workplace experience throughout Town Hall and the community.
The interns worked in numerous departments throughout Town Hall, including the Finance Department, Clerk’s Office, Mayor’s Office, Engineering Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Animal Control, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee, the Parsippany Police Department, and the Parsippany Municipal Court. Additional students were placed with local businesses throughout the township, providing exposure to careers in both the public and private sectors.
The internship program continues to provide students with valuable real-world experience, exposing them to careers in government, law enforcement, the courts, business, and public service while helping develop the next generation of civic and community leaders.
One of the interns, a Parsippany High School Senior, Tanisi Patel, spent her summer working with the Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development Committee, the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, and Parsippany Focus.
“One of the things I enjoyed most about the internship was that every day was a completely different experience,” said Tanisi Patel. “One day I would be attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony or a business anniversary celebration, and the next I would be networking with local business leaders, helping with the Hometown Heroes Veteran Banner Program, writing stories, or taking photographs for Parsippany Focus. The internship gave me a unique opportunity to see how local government, businesses, and the community work together, and it helped me develop skills that I know will benefit me in the future.”
Diya Patel herself is a graduate of the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District and is currently a Juris Doctor candidate at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She is presently preparing for the New Jersey Bar Examination and has used her own experiences as a student to help create opportunities for future generations.
“One of the promises I made on day one was to create meaningful opportunities for our students, and I am incredibly grateful that we were able to deliver on that commitment through the launch of our High School Internship Program. Thanks to the support of our department heads, students gained valuable real-world experience and insight into local government before heading off to college,” said Diya Patel.
“I am especially thankful to Mayor Pulkit Desai for supporting this initiative and allowing me to bring this vision to life. Together, we were also proud to provide scholarships to all 16 students in our inaugural class, helping them take the next step in their educational journey. Investing in our youth is investing in the future of Parsippany, and I look forward to seeing this program grow for years to come,” continued Diya Patel.
The internship program concluded with students having gained valuable professional experience, new skills, and a deeper appreciation for public service and civic engagement, while building relationships that will benefit them as they continue their educational and professional journeys.
The Parsippany-Troy Hills School District launched its Senior Internship Program as a pilot initiative during the 2021-2022 school year, providing 25 students from each high school the opportunity to participate in off-site internships during the final four weeks of the academic year. Following the program’s success, the district expanded participation to 50 students per high school and has since grown the program to accommodate up to 100 students from each high school. The initiative allows students to gain valuable workplace experience, explore potential career paths, and build professional connections while still in high school.
