local government agency summer internship

Transcription

E CONOMIC E NHANCEMENT THROUGH I NFRASTRUCTURE S TEWARDSHIP
L OCAL G OVERNMENT A GENCY
S UMMER I NTERNSHIP
D OUGLAS A. W RIGHT
OTCREOS10.1-51-F
OTCREOS11.1-63-F
Oklahoma Transportation Center 2601 Liberty Parkway, Suite 110 Midwest City, Oklahoma 73110 Phone: 405.732.6580 Fax: 405.732.6586 www.oktc.org Disclaimer
The contents of this report reflect the views of the author, who is responsible for the facts and
accuracy of the information herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of
the Department of Transportation University Transportation Centers Program, in the interest of
information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the contents or use
thereof.
i
TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE
1. REPORT NO.
OTCREOS10.1-51-11.1-63-F
2. GOVERNMENT ACCESSION NO.
3. RECIPIENTS CATALOG NO.
5. REPORT DATE
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Local Government Agency Summer Internship
July 2013
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
10. WORK UNIT NO.
Douglas A. Wright
Center for Local Government Technology
Oklahoma State University
5202 N. Richmond Hill Rd.
Stillwater, OK, 74075
11. CONTRACT OR GRANT NO.
DTRT06-G-0016
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
Oklahoma Transportation Center
(Fiscal) 201 ATRC, Stillwater, OK 74078
(Technical) 2601 Liberty Parkway, Suite 110 Midwest City, OK
73110
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final
January 2011 – July 2013
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
University Transportation Center, OkTC projects OTCREOS10.1-51 and OTCREOS11.1-63
16. ABSTRACT
Twenty-five students from transportation related degree programs were placed in paid internships with
local government transportation agencies during the course of four summers (2010-2013). The project
met the proposal goals of a) providing student interns with valuable, real-world work experience, b)
providing local government agencies with skilled personnel these agencies may not typically have
available for employment in temporary, summer positions, and c) fostering employment after graduation
for the students in local government, transportation related positions. The project also met diversity
goals by having interns serve with both a tribal government and local governments that work with tribal
governments and in economically disadvantaged areas of the state. Though not planned, diversity was
also addressed with student interns of varying ethnicities, genders, races, and educational
backgrounds. An added success of the project was realized when the work student interns performed
enabled the Oklahoma Local Technical Assistance Program to facilitate the implementation of
management practices it advocates in its training for local governments. These practices are now being
adopted by other local government agencies. The project also resulted in a cultural exchange between
several of the international students and the entities, communities, and families they interacted with
during the course of their internships.
17. KEY WORDS
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
19. SECURITY CLASSIF. (OF THIS REPORT)
20. SECURITY CLASSIF.
(OF THIS PAGE)
internship, local government agency,
transportation
Unclassified
No restrictions. This publication is available from the
Oklahoma Transportation Center, www.oktc.org; National
Technical Inform. Service, www.ntis.gov; and the Center for
Local Government Technology, clgt.okstate.edu
Unclassified
ii
21. NO. OF PAGES
59 + covers
22. PRICE
SI (METRIC) CONVERSION FACTORS
Approximate Conversions to SI Units
Symbol When you Multiply by To Find
know
LENGTH
Approximate Conversions from SI Units
Symbol
Symbol When you Multiply by To Find
know
LENGTH
Symbol
in
inches
25.40
millimeters
mm
mm
millimeters
0.0394
inches
in
ft
feet
0.3048
meters
m
m
meters
3.281
feet
ft
yd
yards
0.9144
meters
m
m
meters
1.094
yards
yd
mi
miles
1.609
kilometers
km
km
kilometers
0.6214
miles
mi
AREA
square
in²
inches
square
ft²
feet
square
yd²
yards
ac
acres
square
mi²
miles
645.2
0.0929
0.8361
0.4047
2.590
AREA
square
millimeters
mm
mm²
m²
m²
m²
m²
ha
ha
km²
km²
square
meters
square
meters
hectares
square
kilometers
square
millimeters
square
meters
square
meters
hectares
square
kilometers
VOLUME
fl oz
gal
ft³
yd³
fluid
ounces
gallons
cubic
feet
cubic
yards
0.00155
10.764
1.196
2.471
0.3861
milliliters
mL
mL
milliliters
0.0338
3.785
liters
L
L
liters
0.2642
m³
m³
m³
m³
0.7645
in²
inches
square
ft²
feet
square
yd²
yards
acres
ac
square
mi²
miles
VOLUME
29.57
0.0283
square
cubic
meters
cubic
meters
cubic
meters
cubic
meters
MASS
35.315
1.308
fluid
ounces
fl oz
gallons
gal
cubic
ft³
feet
cubic
yd³
yards
MASS
oz
ounces
28.35
grams
g
g
grams
0.0353
ounces
oz
lb
pounds
0.4536
kilograms
kg
kg
kilograms
2.205
pounds
lb
0.907
megagrams
Mg
Mg
megagrams
1.1023
T
short tons
(2000 lb)
TEMPERATURE (exact)
ºF
degrees
(ºF-32)/1.8
Fahrenheit
degrees
T
(2000 lb)
TEMPERATURE (exact)
ºC
ºC
Celsius
degrees
9/5+32
Celsius
FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS
lbf
short tons
degrees
ºF
Fahrenheit
FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS
poundforce
4.448
Newtons
N
N
Newtons
0.2248
poundforce
lbf
lbf/in² poundforce
6.895
kilopascals
kPa
kPa
kilopascals
0.1450
poundforce
lbf/in²
per square inch
per square inch
iii
Acknowledgments
The author would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals and their
respective organizations to the success of this project:
Mr. Michael Hinkston, Local Technical Assistance Program, Center for Local
Government Technology, Oklahoma State University
Mr. James Self, Tribal Technical Assistance Program, Center for Local Government
Technology, Oklahoma State University
Mr. John Sharp, Association of Central Oklahoma Governments
Mr. James Wagner, Indian Nations Council of Governments
Dr. Jason Peek, P.E., City of Stillwater, Oklahoma
Mr. Chuck Childs, P.E., City of Miami, Oklahoma
Mr. Doug Williams, City of Midwest City, Oklahoma
Mr. Donnie Head, Circuit Engineering District # 8, Alva, Oklahoma
Mr. Monte Goucher, P.E., Circuit Engineering District # 7, Clinton, Oklahoma
Mr. John Blickensderfer, P.E., Circuit Engineering District # 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Ms. Megan Douglas, Circuit Engineering District # 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Mr. Cecil Riding-In, Pawnee Nation Department of Transportation and Safety, Pawnee,
Oklahoma
Commissioner Dean Bridges, Nowata County, Oklahoma
Commissioner Tim Kilpatrick, Nowata County, Oklahoma
Mr. Richard and Mrs. Cindy Murphy, Nowata County, Oklahoma
Commissioner Danny Duncan, Delaware County, Oklahoma
Commissioner Tom Sanders, Delaware County, Oklahoma
Commissioner Ryan Ball, Mayes County, Oklahoma
Mr. Bob Springer, Benchmark GPS, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Dr. Arnulf Hagen, Oklahoma Transportation Center
Ms. Suzette Lavoie, CEAT Sponsored Programs & Research, Oklahoma State University
Dr. Ann Hamilton, Center for Local Government Technology, Oklahoma State University
The author would also like to thank the Oklahoma Transportation Center and the University
Transportation Center Program for funding this project.
iv
Final Report
July 2013
Douglas A. Wright, Director, Center for Local Government Technology
College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology
Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078
Oklahoma Transportation Center
2601 Liberty Parkway, Suite 110
Midwest City, Oklahoma 73110
v
Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1
Summary of Work .................................................................................................................... 3
Year 1, 2010 .......................................................................................................................... 3
Year 2, 2011 .......................................................................................................................... 8
Year 3, 2012 .........................................................................................................................13
Year 4, 2013 .........................................................................................................................18
Analysis ...................................................................................................................................21
Conclusions and Recommendations.....................................................................................28
References ..............................................................................................................................31
Appendix A, Letters of Commendation .................................................................................33
Appendix B, ODOT Research Day Posters ...........................................................................46
vi
List of Figures
Figure 1. Scott Applegate, left, a Construction Management major at Oklahoma State University
served an internship with the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Transportation and Safety
Department during the summers of 2010 and 2011. He is pictured with personnel from
Brawley Engineering at a bridge construction site they were responsible for inspecting.
Brawley Engineering hired Applegate after his graduation in 2012. .................................... 7
Figure 2. Pictured is Agbetunsin Olugbemi a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at
Oklahoma State University who served an internship with Circuit Engineering District # 8
(CED # 8) during the summer of 2011. Olugbemi is shown working on plans for a
construction project. CED # 8 hired Olugbemi as an engineer after his graduation............13
Figure 3. Brice Fiddler, a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at Oklahoma State
University interned with the City of Miami, Oklahoma during the summer of 2012. Fiddler is
shown delivering his end-of-internship report, August 2012. ..............................................15
Figure 4. Benjamin Partain, a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at Oklahoma State
University, interned with Mayes County, Oklahoma during the summer of 2013. Partain is
shown collecting the location of a low-water crossing using a handheld GPS receiver for an
asset management inventory and hydrology study he conducted on the Mayes County
road system.......................................................................................................................21
Figure 5. James Wagner, Senior Transportation Planner for the Indian Nations Council on
Governments (INCOG) is pictured with, left to right, Jessica Brent, Alexis Shahadi, and
Meagan Vandecar. All three students were Master's degree candidates in the Architectural
Studies in Urban Design program at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. They interned with
INCOG during the summers of 2010, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Brent and Vandecar
were hired by INCOG upon graduation..............................................................................25
Figure 6. Alan Ting, a Master's degree candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at
Oklahoma State University is shown learning how to ride on the Nowata County, Oklahoma
farm of Richard and Cindy Murphy. Ting, a native of Malaysia, interned with Nowata
County during the summer of 2012, completing an asset management inventory and
hydrology study begun by interns the previous two summers. Ting also experienced a
cultural exchange with the Murphy family, who he lived with that summer. ........................28
vii
Executive Summary
Operated by the Center for Local Government Technology (CLGT), an Outreach function of the
College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University, this project
placed 25 graduate and undergraduate students from transportation related degree programs
such as Civil and Environmental Engineering, Construction Management, Bio-Systems and
Agricultural Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Regional and Urban
Planning, Architectural Studies in Urban Design, and Geography in paid internships with local
government transportation agencies during the course of four summers (2010 to 2013). These
host agencies included municipal public works departments, county and tribal transportation
departments, Circuit Engineering Districts, and Regional Planning Groups. The internships were
available to students enrolled at the Oklahoma Transportation Center member institutions: the
University of Oklahoma, Langston University, and Oklahoma State University.
The project had several goals, all of which were met. First was to provide students with realworld work experience on projects, tasks, and activities that would augment their education and
produce a more rounded graduate. Second, to provide local government agencies with an
educated and skilled employee that these agencies typically would have difficulty finding to fill a
temporary summer position. Third was to foster work force development and employment after
graduation for the students in local government transportation agencies. Last, the project had a
diversity goal in terms of the local government agencies served by the interns. This was fulfilled
by interns serving with a tribal government and several local government agencies that work
directly with tribal governments, and in economically disadvantaged areas of the state. While
not planned, diversity was also present in the varying ethnicities, genders, races, and
educational backgrounds of the interns.
An added success of the project was realized when an asset management plan and inventory
and a hydrology study on drainage structures in Nowata County, Oklahoma, was performed by
interns during a three-year period. This enabled the Local Technical Assistance Program
(LTAP) at CLGT to demonstrate the value of these management practices to other local
governments. These are practices the LTAP Program has advocated for years in the training it
viii
provides to local government transportation employees. As a result of demonstrating the
usefulness of these practices, several Oklahoma counties have adopted them using student
interns to perform the work.
An unanticipated, positive outcome of the project was experienced in creating a cultural
exchange between several of the international students who served as interns and the entities,
communities, and families they interacted with during their internships.
ix
Introduction
The Oklahoma Transportation Center (OkTC), with the FY10.1 Funding Competition Request
for Proposals, indicated a desire to fund projects in the area of Education, Outreach, and
Technology Transfer that facilitate experiential learning through summer internships. (1) The
Principle Investigator of this project and the author of this report, Douglas Wright, Director of the
Center for Local Government Technology (CLGT), an Outreach Unit of the College of
Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University, believed that CLGT
was uniquely qualified to operate an intern program of this type because of the presence and
experience of two of its transportation related programs: the Local Technical Assistance
Program (LTAP), and the Tribal Technical Program (TTAP). LTAP and TTAP, funded by the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), are respectively tasked with providing training and
technical assistance to local and tribal transportation agencies. (2) These agencies are typically
responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of transportation systems within
their jurisdictions. Both LTAP and TTAP have been operating at CLGT since the 1980s and
their staff members are very familiar with the problems local transportation agencies face.
LTAP Program Manager Michael Hinkston, the Co-Principal Investigator of this project, and
TTAP Program Manager James Self have developed close relationships with many of the
personnel working within local and tribal government transportation agencies across the State of
Oklahoma.
With CLGT providing expended LTAP funds as a cost-share match, PI Wright proposed that the
Local Government Agency Summer Internship Project accomplish four goals that would help
fulfill the OTC mission as a University Transportation Center. First, the project would provide for
the Education of students from transportation related degree programs. It would do so by
placing graduate and undergraduate students from major fields of study such as Civil and
Environmental Engineering, Construction Management, Bio-Systems and Agricultural
Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Regional and Urban Planning,
Architectural Studies in Urban Design, and Geography in internships with local government
transportation agencies. These paid internships would last approximately 13 weeks during the
summer months. Interns would help agencies with projects and activities that complement the
student’s academic course work and give them real-world experience to help them
professionally.
1
The student intern’s work would also fulfill the second goal of the project, to provide local
government agencies with competent employees. Many of these agencies are located in rural
areas where finding the knowledge and skills the students possess is often difficult. In
performing this work, students would, in effect, be contributing to the OTC missions of Outreach
and Technology Transfer by providing a level of technical expertise that normally would not be
available.
The third goal was to foster Workforce Development and employment after graduation in
transportation related positions, particularly in rural areas of the state. Rural areas often have
difficulty attracting newly graduated students from transportation related degree programs. By
exposing students to the work done by local government agencies and in showing them the
importance of this work to the public, it was hoped the students would be more interested in
employment with these agencies after graduation.
Last, it was hoped that Diversity goals would be met by providing student interns to local and
tribal government agencies that work directly with tribal governments. Because many of these
agencies are located in rural, economically disadvantaged areas, the interns’ work would also
address the Diversity issues. (3)
2
Summary of Work
Year One, 2010
Awarded as OTREOS10.1-51, work on this project commenced on January 15, 2010. Principal
Investigator Wright and Co-PI Michael Hinkston developed a plan for the implementation and
execution of the project. An independent program at CLGT was created, named the
Transportation Intern Program (TIP). This was done because it was anticipated that additional
funding for internships might come from sources other than the Local Government Agency
Summer Intern project. Potential host agencies in local government were made aware of the
internships and informed about the application process to receive an intern for the summer.
This was done through the intern program website that was developed:
http://clgt.okstate.edu/Internship, in addition to email campaigns, phone calls, and presentations
given to executive boards and general sessions of professional organizations. Academic
departments that offer transportation related majors were identified at the Oklahoma
Transportation Center member institutions: the University of Oklahoma, Langston University,
and Oklahoma State University. Department heads were made aware of the intern positions
through emails, phone conversations, and personal meetings. Each department head was
asked to tell their students about the intern positions and to encourage them to apply.
A total of six local government agencies applied to host an intern and 14 students applied to
serve as interns the first year. All of the applications came from students at either the University
of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University. No intern applications were received from
Langston University students. When this was noted, additional calls were made to Langston
University officials asking them to encourage application by their students. The cut-off date for
applications was set at April 1, 2010. One of the agency applications and two of the student
applications came after the cut-off date.
A poster presentation describing the intern program was conducted by Dr. Ann Hamilton, CLGT
staff member, at a Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) site visit
organized by the Oklahoma Transportation Center (OTC) in Norman, Oklahoma, March 30,
2010.
Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston conducted interviews of intern candidates April 8,
2010. Each interview lasted approximately one hour. Students were asked about their
3
experience and education and how they related to the specific intern position for which they
were being considered.
Seven individuals were interviewed for the five positions available. After the interviews were
conducted, internships were awarded as follows:
Chase Vencle, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Circuit Engineering District # 8, Alva, Oklahoma.
Mark Gonzales, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Circuit Engineering District # 7, Clinton Oklahoma.
Jessica Brent, Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of
Oklahoma. Placed with Indian Nations Council of Governments, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Logan Walling, Construction Science, University of Oklahoma. Placed with City of
Midwest City, Oklahoma.
Marcae’ Hilton, Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of
Oklahoma. Placed with Circuit Engineering District # 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A sixth intern position was funded by the TTAP program at CLGT.
Scott Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State University. Placed with the
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, Dept. of Transportation and Safety, Pawnee, Oklahoma.
Students were placed on the CLGT payroll and commenced work either the week of May 10-14
or May 17-21. Logan Walling reported to the City of Midwest City on May 17, 2010. He was
briefed on what his duties would be, was introduced to employees and then directed to the
Human Resources department to complete paperwork. He did not return for work after the first
day. Patrick Menefee, Midwest City Engineer, attempted to contact Walling for several days but
with no luck. Mr. Menefee notified CLGT of this. After several attempts to contact Walling, the
position was filled by Frank Mass, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering major, Oklahoma
4
State University. Mass began work on June 1, 2010.
Students submitted bi-weekly time sheets. Along with the time sheets, the interns submitted a
report of their activities for that two-week period. Judging from the reports, the interns appeared
to be engaged in useful, productive activities. Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston
conducted site visits to each of the intern work locations during the first two weeks of August.
These visits included a briefing or presentation conducted by the students about their activities
with their host agency supervisor(s) in attendance and discussion with the students and their
supervisors about their activities. Judging from these site visits, the bi-weekly reports of their
activities, and conversations with local government officials connected with the host agencies,
the interns experienced a productive and successful summer internship. The following is a brief
summary of each of the intern’s experience:
Chase Vencle, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Circuit Engineering District (CED) # 8, Alva, Oklahoma. Vencle worked in
the CED # 8 Engineering Field Office at Drummond, Oklahoma. There he assisted CED
engineers with a variety of tasks, including calculating pay quantities for design projects,
project materials estimation, attending various operational and organizational meetings,
conducting watershed and hydraulic modeling, soil surveys, bridge scour assessments,
and bridge inspections. Vencle also designed a low-water crossing. (4)
Mark Gonzales, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Circuit Engineering District # 7, Clinton Oklahoma. Gonzales assisted CED
# 7 engineers with right-of-way acquisition, hydrology assessments, bridge inspections,
calculating pay quantities, performing drainage area calculations, and attending various
operational and organizational meetings. (5)
Jessica Brent, Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Studies, University of
Oklahoma. Placed with Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), Tulsa,
Oklahoma. Brent worked with INCOG planners to begin the development of a
comprehensive plan for the bicycle and pedestrian trail system in the Tulsa metropolitan
area. To accomplish this Brent conducted traffic counts on different sections of existing
trails, attended numerous planning and organizational meetings, reviewed literature,
conducted bicycle data collection, worked with a Bicycle Advisory Committee, reviewed
5
existing bicycle plans from other cities, created maps representing collected information,
and analyzed the mapped information. (6)
Frank Mass, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with City of Midwest City, Oklahoma. Mass took part in a variety of tasks with the
City of Midwest City’s Public Works Department, including making an inventory of sign
locations with a GPS receiver, sampling water quality in city creeks, and assisting with
the design of an irrigation system for right-of-way locations throughout the city. Mass
experienced first hand the day-to-day activities of numerous divisions of a very active
public works department. (7)
Marcae’ Hilton, Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of Oklahoma. Placed
with Circuit Engineering District #1, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hilton worked on a protocol for
developing an asset management plan that could be used in a rural Oklahoma county
road district. This protocol was to be used as the basis for a comprehensive plan to
include all of the infrastructure assets that a typical rural road district owns. Hilton
collected the location and information on the culverts and other drainage structures in
Nowata County District # 2. She also developed maps and other documents that could
be used in a typical asset management plan. (8)
Scott Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Safety, Pawnee,
Oklahoma. Applegate performed a variety of activities with personnel from the Pawnee
Nation. He assisted with construction management activities on an on-going bridge
construction project, conducted inspection and testing procedures on this project,
assisted with pay quantity calculations, and conducted traffic counts on tribal roads. (9)
The internships concluded with the beginning of the fall semester for each student. In
September 2010 Principal Investigators began recruitment of interns and agencies for the next
summer’s intern period through contact with student organizations and department heads. A
contact was made with an administrator at Langston University that the Principal Investigators
hoped would result in student applications being received the next year from that institution. PI
Wright made a presentation about the project October 14, 2010, at the Oklahoma Department of
Transportation Research Day in Oklahoma City. Also during Research Day activities, two of the
6
interns, Jessica Brent and Marcae’ Hilton, presented posters and were available to answer
questions. In addition, a poster illustrating the Transportation Intern Program was prepared and
presented.
Figure 1. Scott Applegate, left, a Construction Management Major at Oklahoma State University
served an internship with the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Transportation and Safety
Department the summers of 2010 and 2011. He is pictured with personnel from Brawley
Engineering at a bridge construction site they were responsible for inspecting. Brawley
Engineering hired Applegate after his graduation in 2012.
During the first year of operation this project was implemented, for the most part, as anticipated
and described in the project proposal. An exception was additional transportation related
7
degree programs were identified that were not included in the original proposal - the Regional
and City Planning, Urban Studies and the Urban and Regional Planning curriculums at
Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University. After PI Wright was made aware of this,
the appropriate department heads for these programs were contacted. Subsequently, several
of the applying students came from these disciplines and two of the internships this first year
were awarded to students from these programs.
With the conclusion of the first summer of having interns in the field, Principal Investigators were
pleased with the matches made between student and agency. Each of the interns was engaged
in productive, helpful work that should be experience that will benefit them in their future
careers. The benefits of this project during the first year of operation were as anticipated.
Year Two, 2011
Beginning in January 2011 Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston made slight changes to
the plan for the implementation and execution of the project based on the experience gained
from the first year. Potential local government agency hosts were made aware of the internships
and the application process to receive an intern for the summer. This was again done through
the intern program website: http://clgt.okstate.edu/Internship, emails, phone calls and
presentations given to professional organizations. Academic departments that educate
transportation related majors identified during the first year of this project at the Oklahoma
Transportation Center member institutions: the University of Oklahoma, Langston University and
Oklahoma State University were made aware of the intern positions through emails, phone
conversation, and personal meetings. Department heads and individual professors were asked
to tell their students about the intern positions and to encourage them to apply.
A total of seven local government agencies applied to host an intern and 13 students applied to
serve as interns as of the cut-off date, April 1, 2011. All of the applications came from students
at either the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University. None were received from
Langston University.
Interviews of intern candidates were conducted on April 15, 2011 by Principal Investigators
Wright and Hinkston. Students were selected for interviews based on their academic
backgrounds and the needs of the applying local government agencies. Each interview took
8
approximately 45 minutes. A total of 10 students were interviewed for seven intern positions.
After a careful consideration of those interviewed and the needs of the local government
agencies the following internships were awarded:
Meagan Vandecar, Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of
Oklahoma, Tulsa. Placed with Indian Nations Council on Governments, Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
Agbetunsin Olugbemi, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State
University. Placed with Circuit Engineering District # 8, Alva, Oklahoma.
Yun Zhao, Geography, Oklahoma State University. Placed with Circuit Engineering
District # 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Colby Bachman, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Nowata County District # 2, Nowata, Oklahoma.
Hari Rotithor, Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State
University. Placed with the City of Miami, Miami, Oklahoma.
Ava Zrenda, Master’s in Regional and City Planning, University of Oklahoma.
Placed with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
Scott Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Safety,
Pawnee, Oklahoma. The Tribal Technical Assistance Program again funded the
position with the Pawnee Nation.
9
The students were placed on the CLGT payroll and commenced work the week of May 9 or May
16. Students submitted bi-weekly time sheets and progress reports.
Interns Meagan Vandecar, Yun Zhao, and Colby Bachman took part in a Local Technical
Assistance Program (LTAP) conducted GIS/GPS training class May 10 at the CLGT offices in
Stillwater, Oklahoma. This training was conducted to help them develop skills necessary to
successfully serve as interns. Bachman and Zhao also attended an LTAP Chip Seal Class and
Demonstration June 21 in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. At this class, LTAP personnel had an
opportunity to visit with the interns and their supervisors.
Based on the bi-weekly reports from the interns submitted during the summer it appeared they
were all engaged in productive and useful work. During the last week of July and first week of
August, Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston conducted site visits to all of the intern work
locations. During these visits the interns delivered presentations about their activities with their
host agency supervisor(s) in attendance. A discussion was also conducted at each site with the
students and their supervisors about their summer activities. Judging from these site visits, the
bi-weekly reports of their activities and conversations with local government officials connected
with the host agencies, the interns experienced a productive and successful summer internship.
The following is a brief summary of each of the intern’s experience:
Scott Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
Oklahoma. Applegate performed a variety of activities working with personnel from the
Pawnee Nation. He assisted with construction management activities on several ongoing construction projects. Applegate conducted inspection and testing procedures on
these projects and assisted with construction management functions such as pay
quantity calculations. During the summer Applegate also assisted with road maintenance
operations, equipment maintenance operations and asset management inventories in
the Pawnee Nation. (10)
Meagan Vandecar, Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of
Oklahoma, Tulsa. Placed with Indian Nations Council on Governments (INCOG), Tulsa,
Oklahoma. Vandecar spent her internship working on various regional planning projects
10
and activities. She attended several operational and organizational meetings with
INCOG staff and local government officials. Vandecar also used her geographic
information systems and computer graphic skills to develop presentations for INCOG’s
use in plans and meetings. (11)
Agbetunsin Olugbemi, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Circuit Engineering District # 8, Alva, Oklahoma. Olugbemi performed a
variety of tasks for CED # 8. He worked on the development of a Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) required retro-reflectivity plan to be implemented by
local government agencies. Olugbemi also performed bridge inspections, served as an
inspector on bridge construction projects, and performed construction management
functions such as calculating pay quantities. He attended various operational and
organizational meetings and worked on designing components of bridge and drainage
structure plans. (12)
Yun Zhao, Geography, Oklahoma State University. Placed with Circuit Engineering
District # 1, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Zhao continued the development and implementation of
the asset management inventory begun by 2010 intern Marcae’ Hilton. Zhao made
refinements to this plan and expanded the scope of the project to include sign
inventories and a larger geographic area within Nowata County. Zhao also worked with
intern Colby Bachman to assist him with the project described below. (13)
Colby Bachman, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Nowata County District # 2, Nowata, Oklahoma. Bachman took the
information collected during the summer of 2010 by intern Marcae’ Hilton that detailed
drainage structure location, size, and condition and performed a hydrology study to
determine if these structures are sized adequately for their locations and intended
purposes. What Bachman found is that, for the most part, they are undersized. The
District # 2 County Commissioner, Dean Bridges, used this information to develop a plan
for replacing the structures as they are lost to flooding, development, or deterioration.
(14)
Hari Rotithor, Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State
University. Placed with the City of Miami, Miami, Oklahoma. Rotithor worked with Miami
11
City Engineer Chuck Childs, P.E., where he worked on several road, street and site
development projects. He helped develop plans, served as a construction inspector,
investigated right-of-way issues and performed many other and varied professional
activities. Rotithor, in effect, served as an assistant city engineer during his tenure with
the city. (15)
Ava Zrenda, Master’s in Regional and City Planning, University of Oklahoma. Placed
with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Zrenda had a productivity internship where she attended numerous planning and
organizational meetings, assisted with the development and presentation of several
regional transportation planning efforts and other professional activities. Zrenda made
many contacts that should serve her well in her career. (16)
The internships concluded with the beginning of the fall semester for each student or with his or
her graduation. In September 2011, Principal Investigators began recruitment of interns and
agencies for next summer’s intern period.
At the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Research Day October 11, 2011, intern Colby
Bachman entered a poster in the student poster competition describing his summer activities.
Bachman also assisted then County Commissioner Dean Bridges, Nowata County District # 2 in
delivering a presentation on the results of his drainage structure hydrology analysis in Nowata
County at an Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO) conference in
Norman, Oklahoma on November 17, 2011. This presentation was well received and the
presentation was also beneficial in that Commissioner Bridges promoted the Transportation
Intern Program to those present, making them aware of its significance and positive impact on
local governments and the education of future transportation professionals.
12
Figure 2. Pictured is Agbetunsin Olugbemi a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at
Oklahoma State University who interned with Circuit Engineering District # 8 (CED # 8) the
summer of 2011. Olugbemi is shown working on plans for a then on-going construction project.
CED # 8 hired Olugbemi as an Engineer after his graduation.
OTREOS10.1-51 provided funding for the project for a period of two years. In Fall of 2011, the
Oklahoma Transportation Center FY11.1 Funding Competition Request for Proposals again
indicated a desire to fund intern programs. (17) PI Wright submitted a proposal that, in effect,
asked for a continuation of OTREOS10.1-51. (18) Wright also requested a no-cost extension for
the remaining funds from OTREOS10.1-51, which was granted. These funds were used the
summers of 2012 and 2013 to supplement the funding secured for the continuation of this
project with the award of OTREOS11.1-63.
Year Three, 2012
In January 2012 Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston made changes to the plan for the
implementation and execution of the project based on the experience gained from the first and
second years of operation. Local government agencies that potentially would request an intern
the summer of 2012 were made aware of the program and the application process to receive an
intern for the summer. This was done through the intern program website:
http://clgt.okstate.edu/Internship, emails, phone calls and presentations given to professional
organizations. Academic departments that educate transportation related majors identified
13
during the first year of this project at the Oklahoma Transportation Center member institutions:
the University of Oklahoma, Langston University and Oklahoma State University were made
aware of the intern positions through emails, phone conversation and personal meetings.
Department heads and individual professors were asked to tell their students about the intern
positions and to encourage them to apply.
A total of 11 local government agencies applied to host an intern and 20 students applied to
serve as interns as of the cut-off date, April 1, 2012. All of the applications came from students
at either the University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State University. None were received from
Langston University.
Interviews of 13 intern candidates were conducted on April 9 and 10, 2012 by the Principal
Investigators. Students were selected for interview based on their academic backgrounds and
interests and the needs of the applying local government agencies. Each interview took
approximately 45 minutes. Six interns were selected and assigned to a local government
agency:
Brice Fiddler, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with Circuit Engineering District # 8, Alva, Oklahoma.
Alan Ting, Master’s in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Nowata County District # 2, Nowata, Oklahoma.
Harroon Hassan, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with the City of Miami, Miami, Oklahoma.
Alexis Shahadi, Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of
Oklahoma, Tulsa. Placed with Indian Nations Council on Government, Tulsa,
Oklahoma.
14
Figure 3. Brice Fiddler, a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at Oklahoma State
University interned with the City of Miami, Oklahoma during the summer of 2012. Fiddler is
shown delivering his end-of-internship report, August 2012.
Tsung-Hsien Lee, Master’s in Regional and City Planning, University of Oklahoma.
Placed with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma.
Bailee Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Safety, Pawnee,
Oklahoma.
The students were placed on the CLGT payroll and commenced work with their respective local
government agencies either the week of May 7, May 14, May 21, or June 4th. Students were
required to submit a bi-weekly time sheet and progress report. A seventh intern position that
had been provided by the Tribal Technical Assistance Program the past two summers was not
funded this year because of budget constraints.
The bi-weekly reports submitted by the interns indicated that they were engaged in useful work
15
that was productive and of benefit to their host agency. During the last week of July and first
week of August Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston conducted site visits to the intern’s
work locations. The interns delivered presentations about their summer activities and
experiences. Based on these site visits, the bi-weekly reports of their activities and
conversations with local government officials connected with the hosting agencies, all of the
interns experienced a productive and successful summer internship. The following is a brief
summary of each of the intern’s experience:
Bailee Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
Oklahoma. Bailee Applegate performed a variety of activities working with personnel
from the Pawnee Nation. Bailee Applegate conducted inspection and testing procedures
on on-going construction projects and assisted with various construction management
functions. She also assisted with road maintenance operations, equipment maintenance
operations and asset management inventories. Bailee Applegate also took part in the
preparation for and conduct of a site visit attended by FHWA Regional Administrator Jan
Brown and FHWA Oklahoma Division Administrator Gary Corino at a Pawnee Nation
road and bridge construction project. (19)
Alexis Shahadi, Architectural Studies in Urban Design, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa.
Placed with Indian Nations Council on Governments (INCOG), Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Shahadi spent her internship working on various regional planning projects and activities
including a Regional Transit Plan and the Tulsa Trails System Plan. The Regional Trails
System Plan involved a summer-long trail count regimen and the analysis of this
collected data. Another major project for Shahadi was the development of a bike lane
plan for the Third Street corridor through central Tulsa. Shahadi also attended many
operational and organizational meetings with INCOG staff and local government officials
throughout the summer. (20)
Brice Fiddler, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with Circuit Engineering District # 8, Alva, Oklahoma. Fiddler worked on the
development of various databases for the compilation of road and bridge inspection
data, assisted with bridge inspections, developed environmental right of way surveys,
16
developed soil surveys for construction projects, served as an inspector on bridge
construction projects and performed construction management functions such as
calculating pay quantities and audits. Fiddler attended various operational and
organizational meetings and worked on analyzing and rating bridges. (21)
Alan Ting, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
Nowata County, Oklahoma. Ting continued the work done in Nowata County during the
summers of 2010 and 2011 by interns Marcae’ Hilton, Yun Zhao and Colby Bachman.
Ting completed the inventory of drainage structures in the county and performed a
hydrology study on the newly collected locations to determine the correct size of
structure for various rainfall amounts. As with the studies done in previous years Ting
found these structures were, for the most part, undersized. This information was used by
the Nowata County Commissioners to develop a plan for the replacement of these
structures as they are lost to flooding, development, or deterioration. (22)
Harroon Hassan, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with the City of Miami, Miami, Oklahoma. Hassan worked with Miami City
Engineer Chuck Childs, P.E. on several road, street and site-development projects. He
helped develop plans, served as a construction inspector, took samples for soil analysis,
performed project management functions, and investigated right-of-way issues. A major
project for Hassan was the development of a crack sealing and surface treatment plan
for the city. Hassan, in effect, served as an assistant city engineer during his tenure with
the City of Miami. (23)
Tsung-Hsien Lee, Regional and City Planning, University of Oklahoma. Placed with the
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Lee had a
productivity internship where he attended numerous planning and organizational
meetings, assisted with the development and presentation of several regional
transportation planning efforts and other professional activities. Lee worked specifically
on a traffic safety report that relates to public school locations in the Oklahoma City
metropolitan area. (24)
The internships concluded with the beginning of the fall semester for each student or with his or
her graduation. Intern Alan Ting accompanied Principal Investigators Wright and Hinkston to
17
the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Research Day October 4, 2012.
Year Four, 2013
The Oklahoma Transportation Center Board of Directors announced on March 6, 2013 that
limited funding for a fourth year of internships would be provided. Project Principal Investigators
immediately began recruiting students and host agencies for the Summer 2013 intern period.
Because of this late start the number of applicants was down compared to previous years of the
project. As of the application cut-off date, April 1, 2013, eight local government agencies and 14
students had applied. These additional funds combined with those remaining from
OTREOS10.1-51 and OTREOS11.1-63 were sufficient to provide for most of six internships.
The LTAP program at CLGT will provide any remaining funds required for the operation of the
project.
Interviews of intern candidates were conducted on April 5 and 8, 2013 by Principal Investigators
Wright and Hinkston. Students were selected for interview based on their academic
backgrounds and the needs of the applying local government agencies. Each interview took
approximately 45 minutes. A total of 13 students were interviewed for the six positions. After a
careful consideration of those interviewed and the needs of the local government agencies the
following internships were awarded:
Mathew Haffner, Master’s in Geography, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
David Norris, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with City of Miami, Oklahoma.
Trenton Williams, Geography, Oklahoma State University. Placed with Delaware
County, Oklahoma.
Jody Hacker, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with City of Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Justin Dowd, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with Indian Nations Council of Governments.
18
Benjamin Partain, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Mayes County, Oklahoma.
The students were placed on the CLGT payroll and started work with their respective agencies
on either May 13, 2013 or May 20, 2013. In that this final report was written in June, 2013, prior
to the conclusion of the interns service, it is impossible to describe all of the students activities
for the summer as was done for the students in the three previous years of the project.
However, based on the initial progress reports received, it appears all of the students are
engaged in productive, useful work for their host agency. The following is a brief description of
the interns work as of June 18, 2013.
Mathew Haffner, Master’s in Geography, Oklahoma State University. Placed with
Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Haffner has been working on the ACOG 2007-2011 Crash Report and Safety
Transportation Report and in creating a number of reports summarizing this data. He
has also been performing an analysis of the data and mapping it in ArcGIS so that it can
be presented to the public. (25)
David Norris, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with City of Miami, Oklahoma. Norris has been working in a variety of areas - GIS
Systems and mapping, floodplain management, ODEQ project reporting, surveying,
attended various meetings, performing inspections and deed research. It appears Norris
is receiving a broad exposure to the business of operating a municipal public works
department. (26)
Trenton Williams, Geography, Oklahoma State University. Placed with Delaware
County, Oklahoma. Williams has started an asset management inventory to collect
information about the Delaware County road system. This inventory is similar to that
done in Nowata County by interns during the previous three summers. (27)
Jody Hacker, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with City of Stillwater, Oklahoma. Hacker has worked on a variety of tasks so far this
summer. First is the development of a sign retro-reflectivity replacement program
19
required by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Hacker has also assisted
with resolving drainage issues in city right of ways and in calculating pay quantities on
several sidewalk projects. (28)
Justin Dowd, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University. Placed
with Indian Nations Council of Governments. Dowd has been working on the Tulsa area
Trail Master Trail Plan. He has also been developing information for a grant application
that will address Tulsa area air quality standards. Dowd is also in the formative stages
of developing a trail guide for the Turkey Mountain recreation area. (29)
Benjamin Partain, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State University.
Placed with Mayes County, Oklahoma. Partain has started an asset management
inventory to collect information on the Mayes County road system. This inventory is
similar to that done in Nowata County by interns during the previous three summers.
(30)
Though not funded by this project, Cecil Riding-In, Transportation Manager for the Pawnee
Nation of Oklahoma, informed Principal Investigator Wright that they had employed for the
summer in collaboration with Pawnee County, Bailee Applegate. Bailee served an internship
funded through this program with the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Department of
Transportation and Safety the summer of 2012. Bailee has started an asset management
inventory similar to the project completed by interns in Nowata County over the past three
summers. The intent is for Bailee to gather information on all of the Pawnee County road
system. (31) Pawnee County District # 2 Commissioner Jim McCormick, who Bailee is closely
working with during this internship, had submitted an application for an intern but because of
insufficient funds was not selected by the Principal Investigators.
The Principal Investigators intend to conduct site visits to the intern’s work locations at the end
of their service. The interns will deliver an end-of-internship presentation where they will
describe their summer activities. The interns will conclude their internships in early August 2013
prior to returning to school for the fall semester.
20
Figure 4. Benjamin Partain, a Civil and Environmental Engineering major at Oklahoma State
University interned with Mayes County, Oklahoma during the summer of 2013. Partain is shown
collecting the location of a low-water crossing using a handheld GPS receiver for an asset
management inventory and hydrology study he conducted on the Mayes County road system.
Analysis
It is clear in reading the summaries of the intern’s work, the letters of commendation received
from host agency representatives, comments from an academic department head, and the
conversations with these and other officials during the four years of this project that its goals
were fulfilled. The first goal was to address the OTC’s Education mission by providing students
with real world, experiential learning through working on projects, tasks and activities during the
summer intern period. This purpose of this work was to provide students with an opportunity to
increase their understanding of the actual operation of a local government transportation agency
21
and to compliment their academic training. Agbetunsin Olugbemi, who interned with CED # 8
the summer of 2011 stated that his internship “helped him get a better understanding of how
things worked before I started working,” that he “learned a lot of useful skills that I am still using
at work right now,” and that it was “a vital key in bridging the gap between school and work.”
(32) Jessica Brent who interned with INCOG the summer of 2010 states,” I was given numerous
projects to manage and complete, ”and that her internship, “truly set me on a career path.” (33)
Doug Rex with ACOG writes about the three interns his agency hosted, “During their tenure,
students gain irreplaceable work experience through specific assignments and by being
immersed in the weekly schedule of both internal and external meetings of the department and
agency. We believe this combination will better prepare the students for their professional
careers.” (34) Mark Gonzales who interned with CED # 7 the summer of 2010 writes, “My
internship gave me great experience from the class standpoint, my transportation classes were
easier after my internship, and from a professional standpoint, I was better able to sell myself
and know how to handle myself in the work atmosphere once I had the experience.” (35)
Marcae’ Hilton who interned with Circuit Engineering # 1 the summer of 2010 expresses her
opinion as to what she learned from her intern experience, ”Ultimately, I benefited by gaining a
better understanding of hydrology and how it impacts our communities. This knowledge is
invaluable in the planning profession. The internship also provided me with skills in regard to
project management and implementation.” She goes on to say, “As a result of the opportunity
gained through this internship, I have piloted other GIS projects, and work confidently for the
City of Broken Arrow in the office of the City Manager and as a resource for the planning
department.” She then adds, “The internship I was selected for allowed me to pilot a program
using the classroom knowledge and experience I had gained as an Urban Design student. In
addition, I was encouraged to expand the knowledge I had with Geographic Information
Systems and learn multiple new programs.” Hilton was of the opinion that, “My assignment with
the CED was both challenging and rewarding.” (36)
Cecil Riding-In, Transportation Manager for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma Transportation and
Safety Department, which hosted two interns over three summers, wrote, “We appreciate the
opportunity to be part of a vital intern program, which enhances the knowledge and
understanding of our future engineers, through the involvement of real-time work activities, on
an actual construction project.” Mr. Riding-In added, “The work they completed will benefit the
Nation for years to come. I see this program as a win-win for both the interns and the recipients
22
of the interns. I believe the construction projects and transportation activities the Interns
assisted in and completed while in the intern program will benefit them as they enter into their
chosen careers.” (37) Monte Goucher, P.E., CED # 7 refers to Mark Gonzales who they hosted
the summer of 2010, “While allowing him to learn more about the Civil Engineering Profession
he was able to assist our staff in many ways.” (38) Donnie Head, CED # 8 commented on the
three interns his organization hosted, “We were very pleased with the [intern’s] hard work,
determination, and work ethics and would be pleased to have the opportunity again.” (39) Jim
Wilson, City of Miami wrote of Hari Rotithor, the intern they hosted the summer of 2011, “We
believe the program offered Hari an opportunity to expand his professional skills and experience
the workings of local government.” (40)
In reading the intern summaries during the four-year period it is clear that not only was a
tremendous amount of work performed but the second project goal of addressing the OTC’s
mission of Outreach and Technology Transfer to local government agencies by providing them
with competent, educated employees not typical of their normal, temporary summer help was
met. The gentlemen’s comments above, in general, support this fact. More specifically,
Commissioner Tim Kilpatrick, Nowata County District # 3, states that the four interns who
worked in Nowata County during three years “have all been outstanding in their knowledge,
enthusiasm and character. We could not have found employees in our county who would have
the abilities necessary to do the jobs these interns did, even if we could have afforded to hire
them. I feel the LTAP program and the Summer Internship Project are the most helpful
cooperative programs that are available to Oklahoma Counties and are therefore the most
economical and useful way to spend the taxpayers’ dollars. (41) James Wagner with INCOG
had this view of Jessica Brent, the intern they hosted the summer of 2010, “She was able [to]
take up projects in this field that may have otherwise fallen by the wayside as our staff was
consumed by transit system planning over the summer.” He further adds that the interns they
have hosted during the past four years ”provide critical support for our professional staff.” (42)
The interns were expected to be self-starters and to take the initiative. Marcae’ Hilton describes
the nature of the work she performed for CED # 1, “Essentially I was trusted to complete the
task on time and expected to be self-motivated.” (36)
The third goal of the project was to address the OTC’s Workforce Development mission by
introducing students to the work that local government transportation agencies engage in,
making them aware of the importance of this work to the public and, hopefully, to peak their
23
interest in and encourage them to become employed in local government, transportation related
positions after graduation. The project was successful in meeting this goal. Jessica Brent who,
as already mentioned, interned with INCOG the summer of 2010 was hired by this agency after
graduating with a Master’s in Architectural Studies in Urban Design from the University of
Oklahoma, Tulsa. Brent now serves as INCOG’s coordinator for rural transportation programs.
Meagan Vandecar interned with INCOG the summer of 2011. Also graduating with a Master’s
in Architectural Studies in Urban Design from the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, Vandecar was
hired by INCOG and now serves as a small town planning and housing specialist. (43) Marcae’
Hilton who interned with CED # 1 the summer of 2010 and graduated with a Master’s in
Architectural Studies in Urban Design from the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa is currently
employed with the City of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and has worked in their City Manager’s
office and the Engineering and Planning Division. (35) Agbetunsin Olugbemi, who interned with
CED # 8 the summer of 2012, graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Civil and Environmental
Engineering from Oklahoma State University. Olugbemi was hired by CED # 8 after graduation
and now serves at their Alva, Oklahoma, office as an Engineer. (32)
Scott Applegate, a Construction Management student at Oklahoma State University, interned
with the Pawnee Nation over two summers. One of the projects Scott Applegate worked on
during his internship was a bridge construction project designed and inspected by Brawley
Engineering of Oklahoma City. Brawley Engineering is one of the major consulting firms in the
state that provides engineering expertise to local government agencies. During the course of
his internship Scott Applegate worked closely with personnel from Brawley. Jim McCormick,
who helped supervise Scott during his tenure with the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, has told PI
Wright that Scott Applegate was hired by the firm after his graduation in 2012. Another intern
not hired directly by a local government agency but because of his work as an intern with the
City of Miami was Hari Rotithor. After graduation with a Master’s in Civil and Environmental
Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2011 Rotithor was hired by B + T Group in
Tulsa, Oklahoma as a Project Engineer. (44) Chuck Childs, City of Miami Public Works Director,
told PI Wright that Rotithor was hired by B + T Group because of the experience he gained with
the City of Miami.
24
Figure 5. James Wagner, Senior Transportation Planner for the Indian Nations Council on
Governments (INCOG) pictured with, left to right, Jessica Brent, Alexis Shahadi, and Meagan
Vandecar. All three students were Master's Degree candidates in the Architectural Studies in
Urban Design program at the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa. They interned with INCOG during
the summers of 2010, 2012, and 2011, respectively. Brent and Vandecar were hired by INCOG
upon graduation.
The fourth goal of the project was to address the OTC’s Diversity mission by providing interns to
tribal governments and to local government that work directly with tribal governments on
transportation issues. While only one tribal government, The Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma,
applied to host an intern, three of the four years of the project an intern was assigned to that
government’s Transportation and Safety Department. The fourth year of the project the Pawnee
Nation collaborated with Pawnee County to hire an intern to perform an asset management
inventory, as previously described. The majority of the other host agencies, Nowata County,
25
Delaware County, Mayes County, CED # 1, CED # 7, CED # 8, INCOG, and ACOG work
directly with tribal governments on transportation issues within their respective jurisdictions.
The only host agencies that do not are the City of Miami, City of Midwest City, and the City of
Stillwater. Diversity was also addressed in that many of the internships were served in
economically disadvantaged areas of the state. This could certainly be said for the rural
counties of Nowata, Delaware, and Mayes, and the rural areas served by CED’s # 1, 7, and 8.
INCOG and ACOG also have tribal and rural, economically disadvantaged areas within their
areas of responsibility. Though not a goal of the project, Diversity was addressed in the makeup of the interns in terms of race, gender, nationality and major fields of study, with many being
represented.
While not a goal of the project, a collateral benefit of the internships was the opportunity it gave
students to network and establish professional contacts. Jessica Brent writes, ”I believe the
greatest benefit of interning is the opportunity to make connections with people in your field. My
position at INCOG afforded me plenty of opportunities to sit in on meetings, attend events and
meet key players in Tulsa. Most importantly, I was able to demonstrate my skills, work ethic and
enthusiasm in front of a potential employer.” (33) Mark Gonzales describes a positive from his
service with CED # 7 in Clinton, Oklahoma, ”The internship also gave me an incredible growing
experience in moving to a small town in Oklahoma for a summer and not be surrounded by
other people my age. It was a very growing and rewarding time for me.” (35)
For many years the LTAP program at CLGT has advocated the development and
implementation of asset management plans by local government transportation departments.
This management practice has been taught in the many classes and seminars LTAP conducts
that relate to this subject and PI’s were pleased that this intern program produced that positive
outcome. PI Wright working with County Commissioner Dean Bridges, Nowata County
recognized that placing interns in Nowata County, during several summers would allow that
county to develop and implement an asset management plan through the intern’s work. And
that is what they did. The first summer (2010) Marcae’ Hilton, working with engineers from CED
#1 in Tulsa, developed the protocol for the development of an asset management plan that
could be implemented in a rural county. Hilton also began collecting data on the Nowata
County road system concentrating on drainage structures such as culvert pipes and box
culverts. The second summer (2011) interns Yun Zhao and Colby Bachman collaborated to
continue and expanded on the collection of data and in working with engineers from CED # 1 to
26
develop software that could perform a hydraulic analysis on drainage structures. The third
summer (2012) intern Alan Ting completed the asset management inventory and hydrology
study for all of the Nowata County road system.
The completion of this inventory and hydrology study now gives the Nowata County
Commissioners the ability to plan road improvements and maintenance activities based on this
information. For example, when a culvert pipe has been lost due to collapse or flooding, its
replacement can be sized properly based on hydrology calculations. This knowledge is unique
in Oklahoma county government in that, as far as the Principal Investigators are aware, no other
county has performed an inventory and analysis of this type. County Commissioner Dean
Bridges commented to PI Wright that, “This inventory is one of the most important thing I have
done as a Commissioner.” Several other County Commissioners in this region of the state have
become aware of the importance of these inventories and are now duplicating them in their
jurisdictions. As already mentioned, Mayes and Delaware County and Pawnee County in
collaboration with the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma are implementing asset management
inventories and hydrology studies the summer of 2013 using student interns to do the work.
This interest in the implementation of these management practices would not have happened
without the work student interns performed to demonstrate their efficacy.
Another unpredicted, positive outcome of the project was a cultural exchange between several
of the international student interns and the entities, communities, and families they interacted
with during the course of their internships. A good example of this was the experience Alan
Ting had the summer he spent in Nowata County. One of the problems the interns faced in
many of the rural areas they served in was in obtaining short-term housing during their intern
periods. The Richard and Cindy Murphy family solved this problem in Nowata County. Both
Richard and Cindy are employees of Nowata County, each working with a different road district.
They volunteered to provide room and board for summer interns Colby Bachman in 2011 and
Alan Ting in 2012. In providing Ting with housing they also gave this young man from Malaysia
an opportunity to experience life on an Oklahoma farm. Ting was able to see how agricultural
production works; learned to ride, fish, shoot firearms and participated in other activities he was
not exposed to in Malaysia. In listening to Ting’s end-of-internship presentation it was obvious
to the Principal Investigators that these experiences were as valuable to him as those he
engaged in as an intern. The Principal Investigators believe that this and the other positive
experiences the international interns had with the people of Oklahoma can only benefit the state
27
and our country in the future as these young people advance to leadership roles in their native
countries.
Figure 6. Alan Ting, a Master’s candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Oklahoma
State University is shown learning how to ride on the Nowata County, Oklahoma farm of
Richard and Cindy Murphy. Ting, a native of Malaysia, interned with Nowata County the
summer of 2012 and completed an asset management inventory and hydrology study begun by
interns the previous two summers. He also experienced a cultural exchange with the Murphy
family, who he lived with that summer.
Conclusions and Recommendations
The Principal Investigators can conclude several things after having successfully conducted this
intern project during the past four years. The first is that the four original proposal goals are
realistic and potentially reproducible by other organizations. Providing experiential learning to
28
students through real-world work experiences can fulfill the OTC mission of providing Education.
The OTC mission of providing Outreach and Technology Transfer can be done through local
government transportation agencies having available for the summer skilled student workers
they typically would not have been able to hire on a temporary basis. Workforce Development,
another of the OTC missions, can be accomplished by introducing the interns to the nature and
importance of the work local government agencies do and the students consequently being
hired by the organizations they were affiliated with during their internships. The fourth OTC
mission, Diversity, can be addressed through interns serving with tribal and local government
agencies that work with tribal governments and in economically disadvantaged areas of the
state, and by the selection of interns from a variety of ethnic, racial, gender, and educational
backgrounds.
The Principal Investigators believe there are several keys to the accomplishment of these goals
and for other organizations to reproduce them. First, is to keep the concept of the operation of
the program simple. For example, the Principal Investigators did not create a complicated
protocol for the awarding of internships to agencies. Simply taking applications from students
expressing their interests and from host agencies expressing their desires for intern skill sets
and then making the best possible matches worked extremely well. One factor that had an
influence on this matching method that was not considered in the original proposal was
geography. At times matches were determined by a student’s willingness or ability to live or
commute for the summer to a certain area of the state.
For this simple method to work it is important that the Principal Investigators be familiar with the
host agencies applying for interns. Having worked with many of these agencies for a number of
years the Principal Investigators had a good feel for which students would fit in with specific
agencies based on the Principal Investigator’s knowledge of the nature of that agency’s work,
the atmosphere in the office, and the personnel the interns would work with. Another key to
successful matches the Principal Investigators found is to conduct a thorough interview of the
students. After having done this for several years the Principal Investigators became much
more adept at determining information relevant to a student’s internships that did not
necessarily appear in their application or on their resume.
Several unpredicted, positive outcomes resulted from the project. One was the implementation
and demonstration of management practices advocated through CLGT’s LTAP program to local
29
government transportation agencies. The Principal Investigators believe this was a great
method of providing Outreach and Technology Transfer and furthered the OTC’s mission in
those areas. Should this project continue in the future, the Principal Investigators plan to
continue this practice and believe it is an excellent method for university Outreach units such as
LTAP and TTAP programs to implement and demonstrate practices and technologies they
advocate through their training. The Principal Investigators recommend that the Federal
Highway Administration provide supplemental funding to the LTAP/TTAP programs to facilitate
the operation of intern programs so that this Outreach and Technology Transfer method is used
throughout the country. The project also resulted in a cultural exchange with the interaction of
international student interns and their host agencies. While this was not planned, it was
certainly a collateral benefit and should be anticipated by those planning projects similar to this.
Overall, the Principal Investigators feel this project had a high return on investment for
taxpayers. All of the proposed goals were met plus several other unanticipated positive results
were realized. The Principal Investigators believe that the funding of intern programs in the
future similar to the Local Government Transportation Agency project would be money well
spent and recommend that University Transportation Centers such as the Oklahoma
Transportation Center continue to do so.
30
References
1. OTC Research, Education, and Outreach Support (OTC-REOS) Request for Proposals,
FY10.1 OTC Funding Competition.
2. 23 U.S.C. 504(b); MAP-21 §§ 51001(a)(3) and 52004
3. Local Government Agency Summer Internship, Douglas A. Wright, Proposal submitted
to the Oklahoma Transportation Center, January 15, 2010.
4. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Chase Vencle, Summer 2010.
5. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Mark Gonzales, Summer 2010.
6. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Jessica Brent, Summer 2010.
7. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Frank Mass, Summer 2010.
8. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Marcae’ Hilton, Summer 2010.
9. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Scott Applegate, Summer 2010.
10. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Scott Applegate, Summer 2011.
11. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Meagan Vandecar, Summer 2011.
12. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Agbetunsin Olugbemi, Summer 2011.
13. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Yun Zhao, Summer 2011.
14. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Colby Bachman, Summer 2011.
15. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Hari Rotithor, Summer 2011.
16. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Ava Zrenda, Summer 2011.
17. OTC Research, Education, and Outreach Support (OTC-REOS) Request for Proposals,
FY11.1 OTC Funding Competition.
18. Local Government Agency Summer Internship, Douglas A. Wright, Proposal submitted
to the Oklahoma Transportation Center, April 13, 2011.
19. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Bailee Applegate, Summer 2012.
20. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Alexis Shahadi, Summer 2012.
21. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Brice Fiddler, Summer 2012.
22. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Alan Ting, Summer 2012.
31
23. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Harroon Hassan, Summer 2012.
24. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Tsung-Hsien Lee, Summer 2012.
25. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Mathew Haffner, Summer 2013.
26. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, David Norris, Summer 2013.
27. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Trenton Williams, Summer 2013.
28. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Jody Hacker, Summer 2013.
29. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Justin Dowd, Summer 2013.
30. Summarized Bi-weekly Progress Reports, Benjamin Partain, Summer 2013.
31. Letter of Commendation, Cecil Riding-In, June 13, 2013.
32. Response to Intern Questionnaire, Agbetunsin Olugbemi, July 19, 2013.
33. Response to Intern Questionnaire, Jessica Brent, June 18, 2013.
34. Letter of Commendation, Doug Rex, June 13, 2013.
35. Response to Intern Questionnaire, Mark Gonzales, July 1, 2013.
36. Response to Intern Questionnaire, Marcae’ Hilton, Jun2 25, 2013.
37. Letter of Commendation, Cecil Riding-In, August 27, 2010.
38. Letter of Commendation, Monte Goucher, P.E., March 23, 2011.
39. Letter of Commendation, Donnie Head, March 29, 2011.
40. Letter of Commendation, Jim Wilson, August 23, 2011.
41. Letter of Commendation, Tim Kilpatrick, June 18, 2013.
42. Letter of Commendation, James Wagner, August 1, 2011.
43. Letter of Commendation, Shawn Schaefer, June 19, 2013.
44. Response to Intern Questionnaire, Hari Rotithor, July 24, 2013.
45. Response to Intern Questionnaire, Jessica Brent, July 25, 2011.
32
August 27, 2010
Mr. Doug Wright
Director CLGT
5202 N. Richmond Hill Drive
Dear Mr. Wright,
We want to express our thanks and appreciation for your support and funding of the Construction
Management intern program for our department during the past summer.
Scott Applegate worked effectively with all our staff, and was afforded the opportunity to work with the
Plains Bridge Construction crew on our Skedee Bridge Project on one of our Pawnee Reservation Roads.
We appreciate the opportunity to be part of a vital intern program which enhances the knowledge and
understanding of our future Engineers, through the involvement of Real-Time work activities, on an actual
construction Project.
While we enjoyed the opportunity to be part of this program, we trust that it has proven to be a
successful program for OSU and Scott, as well.
We would welcome any opportunity to be partner in any future Intern Program that may become
available.
Sincerely,
Cecil Riding Jr.
Transportation Manager
Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma
Jim R. McCormick
Project Manager
33
Rhonda James
Trans. Data Specialist
March 23, 2011
Douglas Wright, Director
5202 North Richmond Hill Drive
Re: Transportation Intern Program
Dear Mr. Wright,
As a participant in the 2010 Transportation Intern Program I wanted to convey to you our
endorsement of the program. The intern assigned to us was eager to learn and very much
appreciated the opportunity. While allowing him to learn more about the Civil
Engineering profession he was able to assist our staff in numerous ways.
From our perspective this was a worthwhile program that I hope your organization can
continue to sponsor in the future.
Once again, Thanks!
Sincerely,
Monte W. Goucher, P.E.
Executive Director, CED#7
34
DATE: March 28, 2011
TO:!
!
!
!
Douglas Wright
RE:!
!
Letter of Appreciation
2010 Transportation Intern Program
Dear Mr. Wright,
Circuit Engineering District #1 (CED #1) of Oklahoma would like to extend their thanks for the CLGT 2010
Summer Intern Program. CED#1 was fortunate in receiving the services of Marcae Hilton through this
program. The CLGT summer intern program enabled CED#1 to venture into developing an GIS system
for roadway culverts. Overall this program was an outstanding success.
Marcae Hilton brought with her some basic GIS skills due to her college work. These skills proved very
beneficial in developing our GIS system. Marcae researched the equipment and software needed and
presented this to CED#1 for funding. She then developed the initial data list to be collected. Once
equipment and software arrived, she diligently loaded the necessary software and setup the handheld
collector to receive data. She then coordinated with Nowata County for field collection. She presented
status reports each month and a final presentation at the completion of her internship.
The GIS system developed will enable a County to track types of culverts, number of culverts, condition
of culverts, location, and many more attributes. This data is crucial to developing a work plan to replace
insufficient or damaged culverts.
The summer intern program was a great success for CED#1. We are eagerly awaiting the 2011 summer
internship. We have ideas of not only collecting more data, but expanding the GIS system to include
roadway data.
Thank you again and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 918-331-7071.
Best regards,
Gary Deckard, Commissioner
Chairman, Circuit Engineering District #1
35
April 1, 2011
Mr. Douglas Wright
Director, Center for Local Government Technology
5202 N. Richmond Hill Dr.
Mr. Wright,
Our experience with the Transportation Intern Program in the summer of 2010 was highly successful. TIP
intern, Jessica Brent, came to us from the OU-Tulsa Urban Design Studio and demonstrated an
enthusiasm for bicycle and pedestrian planning. She was able to take up projects in this field that may have
otherwise fallen by the wayside as pour staff was consumed be transit system planning over the summer.
Among her achievements during her three months at INCOG, Jessica:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Researched comparable cities’ Bicycle Advisory Committees and developed an application and
plan of action for creating a BAC for INCOG.
Reviewed and rated Oklahoma Safe Routes to School applications
Reviewed League of American Bicyclist”Bicycle Friendly City” feedback to determine progress
made since last application and steps to take before applying for higher rank.
Conducted multi-use trail counts on 13 trails in the Tulsa region and interviewed cyclists about
trip and trail experiences.
Analyzed current and planned trails and prioritized implementation based on areas of need.
Drafted TIGER II application for Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan and researched data points for
HUD Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant.
In addition to her contributions to INCOG, Jessica gained valuable metropolitan planning experience. While
we kept her busy with meaningful projects, we also invited her to sit in on all meetings and planning
sessions that were of interest to her to give her a better sense of the transportation planning process.
We were grateful to be given this opportunity to complete so many projects over one summer while
enhancing the educational experiences of a graduate student. I look forward to more opportunities for
collaboration in the future.
Sincerely,
James Wagner
Senior Transportation Planner | INCOG
Two West Second St. Suite 800 | Tulsa, OK 74103
(918) 579-9447 {office} | (918) 579-9547 {fax}
36
Dee Schieber
President
Ted Craighead
Vice-President
Clint Strawn
Secretary/Treasure
Circuit Engineering District #8
909 West Lakes Drive
Alva, OK 73717
580-327-2278-Phone
580-327-2219-Fax
To whom it may concern,
!
The Circuit Engineering District #8 was very fortunate to house an intern last year
and would like to have the privilege of housing another one this year as well. Our goal is
to train young people to improve their technical skills, workplace communications and
understanding of the workplace and to return home with better knowledge of the job and
it’s qualifications. An intern would be very beneficial to our offices again as well as
beneficial to the intern in the training and learning experiences in the engineering field
they will receive. We were very pleased with the last applicant’s hard work,
determination and work ethics and would be please to have the opportunity again.
!
!
!
!
!
!
Donnie Head
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
3-28-11
37
!
Mayor Kent Ketcher
Councilman Terry L. Atkinson, Ward 3
Councilman Scott Trussler, Ward 2
Councilman John Dalgam, Ward 4
Councilman Rudy Schultz, Ward I
!
!
!
!
Tim Wilson, Interim City Manager
David Anderson, City Attorney
Mike Romero, CFO
!
!
!
August 23, 2011
5202 N Richmond Hills Rd.
Stillwater, OK 74078-8088
RE: Internship Program - Hari Rotithor
To Whom It May Concern:
On behalf of the City of Miami, I would like to express our appreciation for the opportunity to
receive some on-hands exposure and practical benefits from your internship program i.e. Hari
Rotithor just completed an assignment with the City of Miami's Engineering Department.
This assignment was a cultural learning encounter for all concerned, and during his tenure, Hari
provided a positive contribution and made a tangible impact on our current street project, and
assisted with invoices, and inspections.
Additionally, we believe the program offered Hari an opportunity to expand his professional skills
and experience the workings of local government.
A quote from our Assistant Public Works Director: "Please tell Hari thanks for all his hard
work. It was a very successful internship and we appreciate him."
Again, thank you for providing this opportunity for our City.
Sincerely,
CITY OF MIAMI
Tim Wilson,
Interim City Manager
Lll-J3
City of Miami . P.O. Box 1288 . Miami, OK 74355-1288 . Ph: (918) 542-6685 . Fax: (918) 542-6845
38
Curtis E. Barnes, District One
Nowata, Oklahoma
[email protected]
(918) 273-3881
Doug Sonenberg, District Two
Lenapah, Oklahoma
(918) 468-2369
Tim Kilpatrick, District Three
Delaware, Oklahoma
(918) 467-3537
Board of County Commissioners
Nowata County
229 N. MAPLE
NOWATA,OKLAHOMA 74048
Phone (918) 273-0175
Fax (918) 273-2235
Secretary, Karen Freeman
June 18, 2013
To Whom It May Concern,
The LTAP program has been very beneficial to Nowata County and to me personally. Through the County
Roads Scholar Program I learned many skills that are necessary for me to perform my job as Count
Commissioner and my road crew has become much more knowledgeable efficient. and safer at doing their
jobs. The Summer Internship Project has been of great value to Nowata Count. In the last 3 summers with
the expertise of5 interns we were able to develop a computer program and input our total road inventory for
the county including all of the bridges, culverts, low water crossings. and signs including their GPS
coordinates, their size and condition and the hydrological evaluation of the drainage area for each bridge
and culvert in our inventory, This data is invaluable to nu: as a commissioner. The interns themselves have
all been outstanding in their knowledge. enthusiasm and character. We could not have found employees in
our county that would have had the abilities necessary to do the jobs these interns did, even if we could
have afforded to hire them. I feel the LTAP program and the Summer Internship Project are the most helpful
cooperative programs that are available to Oklahoma Counties and are therefore the most economical and
useful way to spend the taxpayers dollars. If I can be of any help to you or any other counties please let me
know what I can do.
Sincerely,
Tim Kilpatrick
39
Department of Transportation and Safety
P.O. Box 470
Pawnee, OK 74058
Phone: (918) 762-3655
June 13, 2013
Doug Wright
Director
Center of Local Government Technology
5202 N. Richmond Hill Drive
Stillwater, OK 74075
Dear Mr. Wright:
The Pawnee Nation Department of Transportation and Safety for the past three
years has been a recipient of an Oklahoma State University Intern from the Local
Government Summer Internship Project. Thank you for providing us with highly
motivated and eager to work and learn Native American Interns.
/
The first three years Pawnee Nation participated in the Intern program we had
new construction projects ongoing. These project consisted of a 210 foot bridge
over the Black Bear Creek in Pawnee County District 2, a 215 foot bridge over
the Black Bear Creek on the Pawnee Nation Reservation in Pawnee, Oklahoma
and the construction of a new road to provide additional access to the Pawnee
Nation Headquarters, tribal programs and US Governmental Agencies located on
the Pawnee Nation Reservation. The Interns worked under the direction and
oversight of the Pawnee Nation Construction Manager. The Interns assisted the
Construction Manager on the worksite daily and observed construction activities
up close and personal. They made daily inspection, quantities calculation, and
kept their own construction log books.
The fourth year the Pawnee County and Pawnee Nation entered into a joint
venture to conduct a road assessment of Pawnee County roads. Pawnee County
applied to the Local Government Summer Internship Project for an Intern
placement. However, they ran out of funds and were unable to provide intern
funding. Pawnee Nation decided to fund an Intern. The project is ongoing and the
Intern is working with a Pawnee Nation Department,of Transportation and Safety
staff member conducting the road assessment. The road assessment will provide
40
road data that includes traffic signs, water drainage areas, bridges, culverts,
safety concerns, and road conditions documented with pictures. This information
will be transferred to a GIS database and will provide Pawnee Nation and
Pawnee County with a valuable tool for planning, traffic routing, and
,documentation of road conditions, etc. The completion of the road assessment
will benefit the tribe immensely by providing information to assist in tribal
planning. It will also provide required documentation of current road conditions
which is required by FEMA before any natural disaster reimbursement funds are
awarded.
The Interns assigned to the Pawnee l'Jation have been competent, eager to
learn, willing to work, and reliable. They appreciated the opportunity to be in the
intern program and to observe and participate in construction activities.
Thank you for providing the Pawnee Nation with these Interns. The work they
completed will benefit the Nation for years to come. I see this program as a win
win for both the Interns and the recipients of the Interns. I believe the
construction projects and transportation activities the Interns assisted in and
completed while in the Intern program will benefit them as they enter into their
chosen carriers.
(
,
9"o
.
4
Sincerely,
. c~
V
\../-lLi '\
Cecil Riding In
. Transportatio/Manager

41
June 12, 2013
Douglas Wright
Director
5202 N. Richmond Hill Drive Stillwater, OK 74075
INCOG has hosted four interns as part of the TIP program. We have hired two of the interns and
intend to continue to place interns in positions as we have staff openings. INCOG’s federal
transportation planning responsibilities is serious business, and our contacts and networks with
local and state government provide our interns an excellent network of contacts around the state
of Oklahoma. Interns participate in preparing for meetings with local officials and provide
critical support for our professional staff. They are exposed to a staff of master’s level
professionals working on exciting transportation projects daily. Every new intern is given a
survey of various aspects of INCOG’s portfolio of responsibilities and asked to rate their
experience level and interest level in each. Assignments for summer interns are designed to
increase their experience in areas where they show a strong interest.
Sincerely,
James Wagner, AICP
42
June 19, 2013
Douglas Wright, Director
Dear Mr. Wright,
I want to thank you and the Center for Local Government for including the students of
the University of Oklahoma, Urban Design Studio in the Transportation Intern Program
over the last four years. This program has benefitted several graduate students with
valuable training and work experience at public agencies and private planning and
engineering firms while they pursue degrees in Urban Studies.
Marcae' Hilton is an excellent example of a student that completed the program. While at
Guy Engineering, she developed a GIS Database for ODOT for classifying highway
drainage structures. She conducted field surveys in Nowata County to populate the
database and classify structures for repair or replacement. She now works for the City of
Broken Arrow and hopes to move into a planning position there.
Three other students, Meagan Vandecar, Alexis Shahadi and Jessica Brent, interned at the
regional planning agency, INCOG. Both Jessica and Meagan received full-time
permanent positions there after completing their internships. Jessica is a coordinator for
the rural transportation programs in the Tulsa Region. Meagan is a small town planning
and housing specialist.
I believe our students benefitted tremendously from their involvement in your program
and I hope that future students will be invited to participate. This is an excellent example
of cooperation between our two universities that should be emulated in other areas.
Sincerely,
Shawn Michael Schaefer, AIA, NCARD, AICP
Director
Schusterman Center - 4502 East 41st Street - Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135
Phone: (918) 660-3478 Fax: (918) 660-3490
43
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DELAWARE COUNTY
DISTRICT ONE -DOUG SMITH
DISTRICT TWO -TOM SANDERS
DISTRICT THREE -DANNY DUNCAN
June 13, 2013
Dear Doug Wright:
In response to your request for feedback concerning the
summer intern program supplied by the Center for Local
Government Technology, I am highly complimentary. This
assignment is our· first in Delaware County and Trenton Williams,
our intern, has been here for approximately six weeks working
with a county employee to try to map the entire county. He is
primarily mapping all bridges, culverts and piping, low water
crossings and signage. He has finished District 3 and is now
working on District 2.
All Commissioners in Delaware County are excited to have this
opportunity and have given him a warm welcome. Personally I have
had the opportunity to get to know him since he is residing at our home
for the summer. I have also had the opportunity to meet and visit with
Ben, the intern in Mayes County and my opinion of both interns is that
they represent OSU very well and by all appearances are quality young
men with bright futures. We in Delaware County appreciate the
opportunity to host an intern and anticipate invaluable information from
his production this summer. Great program for both parties, a win win
for all. Thanks to OSU and the Center for Local Government
Technology.
Sincerely,
Tom Sanders, D-2 Commissioner, Del. Co.
P.O. DRAWER 550 JAY, OKLAHOMA 74346
918-253-4432 FAX: 918-253-8707
[email protected]
44
June 21, 2013
Mr. Douglas Wright
Director
5202 N. Richmond Hill Dr.
Stillwater, OK 74075
Mr. Wright,
The Association of Central Oklahoma Government’s {ACOG} wishes to express support for the Local
Government Summer Internship Project.
We have been involved with the program for several years and have high praise for the quality of the work
of its student interns. During their tenure, students gain irreplaceable work experience through specific
assignments and by being immersed in the weekly schedule of both internal and external meetings of the
department and agency. We believe this combination will prepare the students for their professional
careers.
On behalf of ACOG, I would like to thank the Oklahoma Transportation Center and Oklahoma State
University for their continued commitment to training our next generation of transportation professionals.
We have been impressed by the level of effort of the Summer Intern Program to appropriately place
prospective interns and we look forward to a continued partnership in the future.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Rex
Division Director
Transportation and Planning Services
45
– Transportation Intern Program (TIP)
Principal Investigators: Douglas Wright & Michael Hinkston
Center for Local Government Technology, College of Engineering,
Architecture and Technology, Oklahoma State University
Premise:
Results:
The Transportation Intern Program (TIP) facilitates
experiential learning by placing undergraduate civil
engineering, construction management and students of
other relevant degree programs with local government
agencies responsible for the maintenance and
construction of roads and bridges. These agencies
include the public works departments of county, municipal
and tribal governments, Circuit Engineering Districts
(CEDs), and the Association of County Commissioners of
Oklahoma (ACCO). Students assist these agencies with
transportation related projects, tasks and activities during a
paid summer internship. The primary focus area of this
project is education and outreach but it also supports the
OTC’s goals for diversity in that interns work in
economically disadvantaged areas of Oklahoma. Students
eligible are those from OTC member institutions - the
University of Oklahoma, Langston University and
Oklahoma State University.
This project provides student interns with valuable real world
experience that relates to the course work they have taken,
their major field of study and their future careers. The hosting
agencies make use of an intern’s knowledge and skills that a
typical summer employee may not possess. The impact of
the internship is that students in transportation related major
fields of studies are more rounded in their education through
the practical experience gained in the internship and better
prepared when they enter the workforce after graduation.
Local government agencies benefit from the positive impact
the interns have in working on projects and activities that may
not have been accomplished without their assistance.
Acknowledgments:
Method:
Interns and host agencies are selected through an application
and interview process. After the spring semester has ended
for an intern they begin work with their host agency. These
internships last through the summer until shortly before the
intern’s fall semester begins. During the course of the intern’s
service, they submit bi-weekly reports to the principal
investigator summarizing their activities. Project staff conduct
on-site visits to the intern’s work location for assessment
purposes. Reports summarizing the activities and outcomes
of the intern’s service are prepared at the conclusion of the
summer internship.
46
Friday, March 26, 2010
This is an Oklahoma Transportation Center
project funded by the RITA University
Transportation Center Program. The Local
Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) of the
Center for Local Government Technology (CLGT)
at Oklahoma State University provided matching
funds for this project.
For Additional Information Contact:
Douglas Wright, Director, Center for Local Government Technology
405-744-6049
[email protected]
OTREOS 10.1-51/OTREOS 11.1-63
Principal Investigators: Douglas Wright & Michael Hinkston
Center for Local Government Technology,
College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology,
Summer 2012 Interns and Agencies:
Brice Fiddler, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma
State University, Stillwater - Circuit Engineering District # 8,
Enid, OK.
Premise:
The Transportation Intern Program (TIP) facilitates
experiential learning by placing undergraduate and
graduate students of transportation related degree
programs with government agencies responsible for the
planning, maintenance and construction of transportation
networks and infrastructure at the local level. These
agencies include the public works departments of county,
municipal and tribal governments, Circuit Engineering
Districts (CEDs), and the Councils on Government
(COGs). Students assist these agencies with
transportation related projects, tasks and activities during a
paid summer internship. The primary focus area of this
project is education and outreach but it also supports the
OTC’s goals for diversity in that interns work with tribal
governments and in economically disadvantaged areas of
Oklahoma. Students eligible are those from OTC member
institutions - the University of Oklahoma, Langston
University and Oklahoma State University.
Method:
Interns and host agencies are selected through an
application and interview process. After the spring
semester has ended for an intern they begin work with
their host agency. These internships last through the
summer until shortly before the intern’s fall semester
begins. During the course of the intern’s service, they
submit bi-weekly reports to the principal investigator
summarizing their activities. Project staff conduct on-site
visits to the intern’s work location for assessment
purposes. Presentations detailing the activities and
outcomes of the intern’s service are delivered at the
conclusion of the summer internship.
Alexis Shahadi, Architectural Studies in Urban Design,
University of Oklahoma, Tulsa - Indian Nations Council on
Government (INCOG), Tulsa, OK.
Bailee Applegate, Construction Management, Oklahoma State
University, Stillwater - Pawnee Nation, Pawnee, OK.
Haroon Hassan, Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater - City of Miami, OK.
Results:
This project provides student interns with valuable real world
experience that relates to the course work they have taken,
their major field of study and their future careers. The hosting
agencies make use of an intern’s knowledge and skills that a
typical summer employee may not possess. The impact of
the internship is that students in transportation related major
fields of studies are more rounded in their education through
the practical experience gained in the internship and better
prepared when they enter the workforce after graduation.
Local government agencies benefit from the positive impact
the interns have in working on projects and activities that may
not have been accomplished without their assistance. In
addition, with their exposure to the important work that local
government agencies perform, students may develop an
interest in a transportation related career.
Alan Ting, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Oklahoma State
University, Stillwater - Nowata County, OK.
Acknowledgments:
This is an Oklahoma Transportation Center project funded
by the RITA University Transportation Center Program. The
Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) of the Center
for Local Government Technology (CLGT) at Oklahoma
State University provided matching funds for this project.
For Additional Information Contact:
Douglas Wright, Director, Center for Local Government Technology
405-744-6049
[email protected]
47
Monday, October 1, 12
Tsung-Hsien Lee, Regional and City Planning, University of
Oklahoma, Norman - Association of Councils on Government
(ACOG), Oklahoma City, OK.
ENVIRONMENTAL-JUSTICE
TRAIL PRIORITIZATION
Highlighting planned trails and areas of need in Tulsa, OK
GIS analysis began with the creation of a
basemap showing planned, funded and existing trials within the Transportation
Management Area.
Multiuse trails, unpaved trails and bikeways were selected for analyisis at the
local and regional scale. However, only
the regionally planned trails were used
for analysis and funded trails were treat ed as existing trails for the purposes of
this study.
5 EJ issues were selected for analysis:
-Low Income Clusters (shown above)
-Minority Clusters
-Seniors aged 65+
-Persons with Disabilities
-Youth aged 5-17
When alalyzing concentrations of disability, medical facilities were also mappedto note proximity
to trail systems.
For youth analysis schools were mappedto better
understand how TMA trails can serve students
This is an example of work completed by summer intern, Jessica Brent, through the TIP
program placement at INCOG - 2010
48
The final alalysis examined the intersec tion of EJ issues.
Above, the darker green in mid-north Tul sa indicates the intersection of minority, senior, disability and low income. No
where did all 5 issues intersect.
From here, planned trails were prioritized
according to their intersection with ar eas of need as well as areas that are
not currently served by existing trails.
Hydrologic Analysis For Small Structures And GPS Data Collection Projects
Study Done By: Colby Bachman
Study Done In: Nowata County, OK
Funded By: The Center for Local Government
Technology at Oklahoma State University
Introduction
FEMA Disaster Mapping
This project involves analyzing the condition of structures in Nowata
County in regards to their hydrologic qualities. The goal is to show the adequacy or inadequacy of these structures through hydrologic analysis and propose a sufficient design
for those structures that are unsatisfactory. This has been done by examining the structures, their streams, and the peak flow rate produced by their respective watersheds.
With such a large number of structures being considered in this
study, it was imperative to break down the watersheds into different classes. This greatly simplified the study and also gave a
basis for which analysis method should be used. For example,
roughly forty percent of the watersheds were smaller than 10
acres and therefore were small enough to be assigned the minimum required culvert diameter of 24”.
Streamstats was used in
the analysis of the watersheds. The batch processor made the process
much faster. As the
analysis was done, the
data was copied into a
database and organized,
sorted, printed, and filed
for the county’s use.
Sign GPS Data Collection
49
Drainage Pipe Inventory and Research
AUTHOR: Marcae’ Hilton
Introduction
The Urban Design Studio (OUUDS) was proud to partner with TIP in a drainage pipe inventory of Nowata County. Through the efforts/partnership of
John Blickensderfer of Guy Engineering and the Circuit Engineering District #1
(CED1), this summer intern program provided valuabledrainagerelated information as well as other great
to Nowata County, District 1, and the CED!.
The TIP (Transportation Intern Program) received funding from the Oklahoma
Transportation Center and the Local Technical Assistance Program at Oklahoma
State University. The program was designed to place students from Oklahoma Transportation Center member institutions – the University of Oklahoma,
Langston University and Oklahoma State University -- in internship positions
with local government agenciesresponsible for Oklahoma transportation
systems.
Goals
The Nowata County Drainage Pipe Inventory is a pilot program designed to
address current drainage issues and plan for the future by creating long term
goals, programming, and a job position.
The
1.
2.
3.
goals of the Drainage pipe inventory are:
To create GIS maps to identify current culverts.
To identify the size, location, and condition of culverts.
To design a GIS program for future use within the counties of the
CED1. This program would potentially employ 1 or 2 persons for the
purpose of inventorying culverts, bridges, signs, road conditions, water
lines, and more.
Procedures for Drainage Pipe Inventory
EQUIPMENT
NEEDED:
Digital Camera
Wi-Fi Card
Camera Strap for neck
Camera Case-NEED TO PURCHASE
Batteries-rechargeable
GPS Unit
Trimble GeoXT
Carrying Case
Cradle for charging
Power Cord
External Antenna
Tape Measure-retractable
45 ft with inches and feet
Spray Paint
Orange is easy to see
Get cans that spray upside down
Vehicle
Preferably a 4 or all wheel drive due to unforeseen road
conditions and weather
Gasoline
Radio to check weather conditions
Machete-somethingto cut large weeds, grass and to kill
predators
Safety Vest- to be worn at all times
Water, toilet paper
Sun screen
Bug spray
“This
is not the
end it is the
beginning!”
CONCERNS:
Weather
Rain,
snow, sleet, extreme heat, high winds,
tornados, freezing temperatures
Animals and people
Watch for wildlife/cattle in roads, culverts, ditches
Wasps, bees, snakes, scorpions
Dogs, unfriendly people
Be conscious of where you park, hills, valleys
Be watchful getting in and out of vehicle
Maps
Correction lines on map are properly marked
Streets are properly labeled on map
PREPARATION :
COUNTY/CITY:
Have ditches mowed no more than
a week prior to inventory
Prepare topographical maps of area
Have highlighter and pen available
Evaluate possible routes and make plan for next
day-share plans with Commissioner
Methodology
Primary Research to Be Conducted:
•
Road conditions
•
Culvert location/condition
Methods of Research:
o
Create a schedule
•
Determine GPS and Mapping product
•
Read user guides/download software/create data dictionary
•
Begin data collection
•
Map results
•
Present Findings
o
Photos-Camera: take photos of inventoried culverts and poor road
conditions
o
GPS-Data Entry-use GPS: to collect data to be used for inventory
and mapping
o
Database: create a web based system for all counties to use to review
data collections
Initial Brainstorming Goals:
Meet GIS Administrators within counties
Learn about their software
Collect samples of data
Sample reports
Cameras
Other equipment
CLOTHING
RECOMMENDED:
Heavy duty denim jeans or overalls
Snake proof boots-minimum waterproof
Jacket-layers
Hat or ball cap
Sun screen- don’t forget ears, chest and arms
Bug spray
Spray bug spray on bare feet and legs, reapply over socks/and or
pants
Don’t forget upper body
WHAT IS A DRAINAGE PIPE INVENTORY?
WHERE IS NOWATA COUNTY?
WHAT IS A CED?
50
PROCEDURE:
Turn on Trimble Unit
Drive down road slowly, probably 25mph or less for best results
Look for: any of the following could indicate a culvert or the need for
a culvert
Low areas on map and road
Creeks on map
Long ridges across road
Breaks in vegetation
Ponds near road
Protruding metal in ground
Wash outs in road
Standing water, mud
Stop when any of the previous conditions are listed
Once culvert is
Take photo- must be done
because it takes s few minutes to Wi-Fi
to GPS unit
Photograph both ends, any gashes, any deterioration
Paint both ends of culvert
this makes it easier to
in future, and in photograph
identify where you have been-small2-3 in dot is
Begin taking measurements
Road width-feet
Lanes on road-anything less than 20 feet is one lane
Measure from solid edge of road to solid edge, we did not include loose
gravel near the grass/ditch
Make note if no intersection coming up or dead end
Culvert Measurements-inches: length, width, span, curb to curb, etc
Input data
One person-I would suggest measuring as you input data
Two person- let one person photograph, paint and measure-other input
Hardcopy of Map
Highlight street once traveled
make notation on map if no culverts are found
Go to next culvert/pothole/washout/needed road repair
Conclusion
571 Culverts
40.8 Culverts/average/day
14 Days in Field
Drive Time: 26 hours
Hours In Field: 126.50
9.03 Average Hours in Field/Day
300 miles
23 miles a day

local government agency summer internship

Transcription

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