Florence Field Office Partners With the University of North Alabama

by Penny Everitt, Soil Conservation Technician, Florence Field Office, AL

For the past several years, the Florence Field Office in Lauderdale County has had a working agreement with the University of North Alabama (UNA) to provide Earth Team Volunteers on a semester basis. From this arrangement, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) receives help servicing cost-share applications, Conservation Security Program (CSP) logistics and organization, certification of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings, help with ArcView and other general computer functions, as well as light office work. The college students are juniors or seniors and are required by their supervising professor to work in the NRCS office a minimum of 12 hours per week for which they receive three hours of college credit.

While working with the field office personnel, the students learn real life applications of what they have been taught in the classroom. Past UNA interns have gone on to get jobs with NRCS; Farm Service Agency; Soil and Water Conservation Districts; Intergraph; Hamilton County 911 in Chattanooga, TN; Southern Environmental Testing; Alabama Department of Environmental Management; and the Birmingham City Planners Office.

This semester, our Earth Team Volunteer is UNA intern Courtney Kelley. Courtney grew up in Florence and graduated from Henry A. Bradshaw High School. At UNA, she takes part in departmental clubs and organizations, serving in positions such as secretary of Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society (SAACS) and Vice-President of the Geography Club. She enjoys photography, kayaking, and Geo-caching. Courtney is a junior majoring in geography and biology. So far this semester, through NRCS, she has received practical experience through on the job training in servicing Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications, working with the global positioning system, and the inner workings of hosting a Water Festival.

More information about the Alabama NRCS Earth Team.

February 2007

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