Nothing was going to stop the New Jersey State Parole Board from congratulating four of its interns who participated in the agency’s summer program.
Amid various safety measures in the U.S. and across the globe due to COVID-19, the State Parole Board held the first of its kind Intern Graduation Recognition Ceremony thanks to virtual video conferencing, according to a prepared statement.
The State Parole Board’s virtual graduation ceremony recognized interns who participated in a program that provided meaningful, real-world, work-learning experiences for qualified college students and graduates entering the job market. There were a total of 14 interns who completed the program—four of whom participated in the virtual ceremony and received their virtual graduation certificates, which will be mailed to them as well.
“While the world continues to face this pandemic, the State Parole Board understands the importance of social distancing. However, we also wanted to find a way to provide a fitting tribute to these bright, eager students. Kudos to State Parole Board Member Julio Marenco and staffer Danielle Garoniak for their vision, development, and ingenuity in putting the virtual video graduation ceremony together,” New Jersey State Parole Board Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr. said in the statement.
“Each semester, our interns work diligently to gain a clear understanding of the parole board’s role within the criminal justice system,” Marenco said in the statement. “Because these students work so hard, they deserve to be recognized for their educational achievement. The virtual graduation was the nexus between technology, safety, and traditional recognition. For me, it was certainly a new experience.”
Intern graduate Christina Cuomo of Princeton, a student at The College of New Jersey, said, “Having the opportunity to intern at the NJ State Parole Board has been one of the most meaningful internship experiences of my college career. I was exposed to many different aspects of the criminal justice field as possible and I will always value the lessons taught through this great experience.”
Since the New Jersey State Parole Board Internship Program began in 2011, 431 interns were placed for assignment at either the agency’s central office in Trenton, one of the parole district offices throughout the state, or a parole office at a state prison, according to the statement.
The interns attend a variety of colleges and universities, including Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey, Monmouth University and William Paterson University, according to the statement. The internship program has three sessions throughout the year: spring, summer and fall.
Those interested in learning more about the New Jersey State Parole Board’s program are encouraged to visit www.state.nj.us/parole/recruitment.html.