It is graduation season, but the class of 2019 we refer to here is last summer’s group of High School Apprentices.
The Museum’s High School Apprentice Program (HSAP) brings high school students from the five boroughs to the Museum twice a month during their second semester, and then every day during the summer for several weeks. They are trained on leading tours of younger children visiting the Museum with their camp or youth groups. When not leading tours, the HSAP Apprentices work in different departments at the Museum, switching departments every week to get a sense of what it means to work in a Museum environment.
Joana Arruda is Manager of Museum Internships, and though she spends much of her time working with current and future Apprentices and other Museum interns, she also takes time to catch up with those who have worked with us in the past. During this period of shelter in place, staying connected has been more important than ever, and Joana has organized Zoom reunions with the HSAP Class of 2019.
Each class of High School Apprentices is made up of wonderful young New Yorkers who inspire Museum staff every year with their dedication, intelligence, and interest in giving back to society. A case in point is Ben Raab, who has been keeping in touch with one of the Holocaust survivors he met during his Apprenticeship to make sure she is not alone during this time of isolation.
Five of our Class of 2019 Apprentices are graduating high school in June; four of them will be attending NYC colleges in the fall. We send them our congratulations, and our respect at the resilience they are showing in the face of uncertainty.