High School Internships
MTC offers Bay Area high school students the opportunity to discover the inner workings of a metropolitan planning organization, and start on a career path in government service.
The Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy
The application period for the 2023 Norman Mineta Bay Area Summer Academy is now closed.
Named for Bay Area transportation giant Norman Y. Mineta, the Bay Area Summer Academy for high school students is a partnership between MTC and other regional Bay Area agencies.
During weekly, mostly-online seminars (July 6-July 27), students will learn:
- What regional agencies do, and the skills needed for a future career in the public sector
- How to weigh in on decisions that impact the air we breathe, the neighborhoods we live in, how we get to work and school, spaces for exercise, and other factors that shape the health of our communities
- How to have a voice in making decisions that benefit their communities
- How to answer questions like: How long is a bridge supposed to last? Why are there so many potholes? Why is housing so costly? Is the water really rising in the Bay Area?
Students will attend online sessions, complete quizzes, and at the end of the program, make a brief presentation on a local challenge involving transportation, housing, environmental justice and/or related topics.
Upon completion of the Bay Area Summer Academy, students will receive a certificate to include in college, vocational and/or job applications.
Applicant qualifications:
- Live in the Bay Area and attend a local high school
- Must be at least 16 years old and have completed the ninth grade by the beginning of the Academy
- Be able to attend online seminars and present on a topic related to the seminars
- If the student is under 18, have the permission of a parent or guardian to participate
Student participants come from across the Bay Area, with a focus on young people who might not otherwise consider a public sector career. Students of all races and ethnic backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Grade point averages are not considered.
Participating agencies include the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Association of Bay Area Governments, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
Staff Contact
Phone: (415) 778-5207
Email: InternCoordinator@bayareametro.gov
Norman Mineta dedicated his life to public service: as San Jose City Council member and mayor, representing the South Bay in Congress, and serving as the Secretary of Transportation. Throughout his accomplished life, he cared deeply about creating educational and career avenues for the next generation of public servants. MTC is proud to name the Bay Area Summer Academy after Secretary Mineta, honoring his memory by inspiring youth to become public servants.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is an equal-opportunity, non-discriminatory employer. MTC provides all employees and applicants with an equal opportunity in every aspect of the employment experience regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, physical handicap, medical condition or marital status.