Summer intern joins Millerton News

MILLERTON — Meet Jemini Kilmer, the newest addition to The Millerton News team. She is joining the newspaper as an intern through the North East Community Center (NECC) Community Partnership With Schools and Business Program.

Her interest to join the newspaper was inspired from her passion for photography.

“I really love it,” said the incoming Webutuck High School junior. 

Her favorite class in school is photography, and she said she could not wait to take the second part of the class.

Her responsibilities at The Millerton News, however, will expose her to more than just photography. While learning how a newspaper operates, she will be responsible for keeping tabs on local news, conducting interviews, attending local events and composing weekly articles. Jemini said she is excited to explore uncharted waters.

“I want to know what it is like to work with people in an office,” she said. “With this internship, I also hope to learn how to write news articles and hope people enjoy reading them — it’s an exciting opportunity.”

More importantly, however, Jemini hopes to put her photography skills to practice.

At only 15 years of age, Jemini has completed one year of a two-year leadership program at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. She is a regular volunteer at NECC and also participates in its Teen Team and Youth Council programs — programs that have helped broaden her horizons, she said.  

Her leadership skills will come in handy as she works with other local leaders, all in an effort to share information about local activities and businesses in her community.

“I’m really shy, but doing these types of programs has helped me open up — it means a lot to me to be a leader,” she added. “I don’t like being a follower.”

According to NECC internship advisor Betsey McCall, participants of  the program learn important life skills.

“She’s learned about work ethic, developed important team building skills and communication and interpersonal skills,” she said. “Jemini is a very responsible student. This is her second year as an intern; she completed her other internship through the Farm and Education Program at the community center.”

Being able to further explore her hometown of Millerton and the surrounding region is another exciting aspect of her internship, said Jemini, who added she enjoys seeing and doing new things as often as possible.

Jemini’s internship will last through the summer; she’s required to complete 160 hours during its duration.