Summer is officially here and there is a last-minute scramble to land a job for the next few weeks.

Not for Wolmer’s boys.

Seventy-two of them have this year been placed across corporate Jamaica under the Wolmer’s Summer Internship Programme — an academic incentive for fourth and sixth formers who are placed based on their performance during the Easter term (January – March).

The six-year-old programme is the brainchild of vice-principal Grace Leyow, who explained that students who top any of the 23 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate or 16 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination subjects offered at Wolmer’s, in addition to besting their form class and being named most improved, are eligible. The school was in transition at the time, she said, and then-board member Jeffrey Mordecai sought novel ways to motivate students.

After awarding gadgets and devices for outstanding academic performances, Leyow said she came up with a “more meaningful” prize for most improved student.

“It started with one summer job to six summer jobs; one fourth-form summer job,” she said of the genesis of the project.

This year, the 72 internships have been split 30:42 between fourth and sixth formers. It is no longer just Vice-Principal Leyow working on the programme, but also sixth form year group supervisor, Nicole McIntyre-Grant, fourth form year group supervisor, Sophia McCarty, and her assistant Karen Gobern.

At the award ceremony two Fridays ago at the Douglas Orane Auditorium on the school’s Heroes’ Circle campus, Principal Dr Walton Small had glowing tributes for the companies who partnered with them this year.

“Oftentimes you don’t get the recognition for investing in Jamaica,” he said. “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to see the world of work,” he continued, speaking on behalf of the recipients.

He however cautioned the employers: “We are not sending perfect students to you. Guide them; that is what we want.”

Meanwhile, Leyow charged the students that, while at work, they are ambassadors to the school.

“As Mrs Robb said, ‘Wolmer’s Boys’ must be first in line…’ You are going out as Wolmer’s ambassadors,” she said, before addressing the sponsors:

“This is not a handout. I guarantee you, you will get the best because these boys had to work for it.”

‘Mrs Robb’ was Leyow’s co-vice-principal before she retired in 2013, after 37 years of unbroken service.

Leyow said the growing number of interns each year, as well as the repeat corporate sponsors on board, with some even offering students permanent employment upon completion of their tertiary studies, speak to the success of the programme.

“There have been companies that have paid for students’ tuition,” Leyow said.

Vice-president of the Jamaican Bar Association Stuart Stimpson, who was the guest speaker at the award ceremony, encouraged the students to seize every opportunity they get.

“If you don’t apply yourself consistently in life you will not be successful,” he advised.

Before the ceremony, the school’s bursar, Eaton Facey, engaged the interns in a presentation on job readiness. They were presented with a package with a professional résumé format and cover letter, and would have benefited from a job preparation module which the English Department included in the fourth form syllabus. They will also be interviewed by their employers.

The paid internships last for three to four weeks and for the most part, are fully sponsored by the companies. Two of this year’s cohort will be placed at the Jamaica Observer.