BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For years, Quanzel Storey has known he wants to be a journalist. Thanks to an internship program at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Ensley, he is well on his way to fulfilling that dream.
Storey, a junior, is interning with the weekly Birmingham Business Journal for the third year. In his freshman year, Storey worked one day a week, doing online research and database entry. Last year, he began attending BBJ events, which gave him an inside look at how the paper is put together. This year, Quanzel Storey had his first byline, in both the printed and online editions of the paper.
“I had never written an article before I came here, so it was pretty cool to see my first byline,” Storey said. “I’ve wanted to be a journalist for a long time, and this internship has given me insight into what the business world and newsroom is like.”
Storey is one of more than 200 students who participate in Holy Family Cristo Rey’s unique work-study program, which provides students aged 14 and older an opportunity to gain valuable business skills, as well as offset much of their tuition. More than 85 businesses in metro-Birmingham currently partner with Holy Family Cristo Rey in the program.
Cindy Crawford, editor of the Birmingham Business Journal, said the newspaper has had a presence on the Holy Family Cristo Rey school board for years, and was eager to participate in the internship program. Quanzel Storey was the paper’s first high school intern. “Previously, we’ve had interns at the college level, and at first weren’t sure how to structure a program for a high school student. But Quanzel has worked out well.”
From data entry to research, Storey’s tasks at the BBJ help the paper in significant ways. “A lot of stuff that we don’t have anyone on staff to do, we save for Quanzel,” Crawford said. “Things like doing an Excel spreadsheet may seem small, but it makes a big difference for us. This year, as a junior, he started writing articles, which was a plus, as we have been understaffed.”
Storey said he has gained valuable skills and insight as an intern, and will be well prepared for a role in a newsroom. “I am gaining more knowledge about what it is like to work in the business world,” Storey said. “It has helped to improve my grades in the classroom.”
Crawford agrees. “Now Quanzel is doing web stories. He will write for us more as a senior next year. This will help him a lot in the future.”
Holy Family Cristo Rey is seeking more companies to employ students for its Corporate Internship Program. For details, call CIP Sales Director Scott Meinberg at (205) 263-0151, email smeinberg@hfcristorey.org, or visit www.hfcristorey.org. Follow the school on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
