Young Dawgs Program

Sometimes, it's not always clear how the museum participates in community outreach through the University of Georgia, as opposed to its outreach programs that focus on kids and seniors, which have a more state-wide bent. We were recently encouraged to participate in the Young Dawgs program, which provides internships to high school students as a way of preparing them for the workplace. The museum has always had a strong internship program for undergraduates and the occasional graduate student, but this is our first experience with younger kids volunteering, and they've been great. We had the two pictured above, Deylah McCarty (left) and Victoria Slaboda (right) interview one another about the experience, and what they came up with follows.

Victoria Interviews Deylah

Deylah McCarty is a 17-year-old senior at Classic City High School PLC.

Q. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A. An artist and a musician. I would like to open up my own shop to sell my art and be in a band.

Q. What attracted you to interning at GMOA?

A. Well, the art of course. I was also interested in learning how a museum works though. Seeing the business side of the art world. The opportunity to gain more computer experience was an attractive asset to me.

Q. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from interning at GMOA?

A. I learned how to make graphics for the website, which involved learning how to use new computer programs, and also just having work experience has been helpful.

Q. What’s your favorite thing that you have done at GMOA so far?

A. The “Art Of” graphic I made that got put on the front page of the website. I’m really proud of it.

Q. What’s the most interesting part about your internship?

A. Meeting new people, gaining new resources, especially people resources.

Q. You’re working in Public Relations, how do you think what you’ve learned there will be beneficial to your future career goals?

A. I’ve learned that being able to handle the public is really important, no matter what department you work in. Social skills are extremely important to business.

Deylah Interviews Victoria

Victoria Slaboda is an 18-year-old senior at Classic City High School PLC.

Q: As you’ve probably been asked a million times, what do you want to be when you grow up?

A: I plan to be a curator of the European arts.

Q: Why did you choose to intern at GMOA?

A: I love art! I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how a museum is run, and it’s a good link to learn more about being a curator.

Q: So far, what is the most valuable thing you’ve learned there?

A: How to resize photos for the website.

Q: What has been your favorite task so far?

A: I took pictures at the GMOA On the Move Campaign, which got blown up really big and hung up at the kick-off party, and I made a giant red arrow, which was also hung up at the party! For some reason I’m really proud of that arrow…

Q: What’s the most interesting event that has happened?

A: The GMOA kick-off party was very fun, with dancing and music, and I got to meet more of the GMOA employees and make more connections.

Q: You intern in the Public Relations department. How has this been beneficial in regards to your career goals?

A: Well, a curator works with the Public Relations department often, and when you work in a place that is essentially for the public (like a museum), it’s important to have a good relationship with the public. Social skills are always valuable, and business social skills will be good to have as well.

The museum plans to continue participating in the Young Dawgs program, and we'll have a new student from it this summer. Our interactions with our interns are always as educational for us as for them, and, honestly, we wouldn't get nearly as much done without them. Thanks, Victoria and Deylah, for being great kids and a big help!