The ICMA Turner Scholars Internship Program is a career-development and mentorship opportunity designed to introduce high school and undergraduate students to local government management and public service as a potential career path. Through partnerships with local governments and managers’ offices, the program gives interns a practical, behind-the-scenes understanding of what managers do, how they do it, and the core values that guide their decisions and management practices. Participating host communities receive a stipend for program participants who intern in the manager’s office during the summer, along with biweekly programming facilitated by ICMA.

Former ICMA member James Kean began his career working as an intern for E. Robert "Bob" Turner, while he was city manager of Boulder, Colorado. He believes that the lessons he learned from his mentor Bob Turner prepared him for a successful career and a life of integrity and passion. Kean established a $750,000 endowment in Bob Turner’s name to ensure students have an opportunity to serve local governments as interns under the guidance of ICMA member mentors. 

This year we have eight communities serving as hosts: Colquitt, Georgia; Douglasville, Georgia; Kansas City, Missouri; Painesville, Ohio; Salinas, California; State College, Pennsylvania; Sun N Lake of Sebring Special Improvement District, Florida; and Moline, Illinois.

Yared Alvarado | Kansas City, Missouri

Yared Alvarado is from Kansas City, Kansas, and is interested in social justice and advocating for change in the status quo. After college, he plans to work in local government before attending law school and becoming an immigration lawyer. His long-term goal is to work in Congress. Through this internship, he looks forward to working on city manager projects to better understand what it takes to serve in that role. He hopes to gain deeper insight into city management and build more experience in local government. Yared’s dream is to work in government to advocate for change, and he sees this internship as a valuable opportunity to learn more about the day-to-day work required to create real, long-lasting change.

Ayden Cruz| Salinas, California

Ayden Cruz was born and raised in Salinas, California. He is currently attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where he is pursuing a degree in economics with a concentration in finance. Ayden is interested in corporate finance, investment banking, and wealth management. Through the ICMA Turner Scholars Internship Program, he looks forward to networking with a wide range of people and receiving guidance across city government to learn how he can contribute to his community. Ayden hopes to see how economic development can help build culture across Salinas.

Audrey DeCarli | Salinas, California

Audrey lives in Salinas, California, and will be a senior at Salinas High School this upcoming school year. She plans to major in agricultural communications at Cal Poly SLO, and then work in the agricultural industry. During her time in the ICMA Turner Scholars Internship Program, she hopes to gain a better understanding of the role of city government, and how effective communication between government and residents can create stronger communities. Audrey hopes that during her time in the program, she will become a more effective communicator.  

Jessie Gao | Painesville, Ohio

Jessie Gao is a first-year student at the Ohio State University studying statistics and public policy analysis, where she is also an Advocates for Communities and Education Scholar. She is excited to bring her background and skillset to build a vibrant and dynamic community in Painesville and beyond. Outside of a professional setting, she loves to practice the flute and serve others as a volunteer at her local food pantry. 

 

Brayan Garcia | Salinas, California

Brayan is from Salinas, California, and will be an incoming freshman at California State University, Monterey Bay, where he plans to major in psychology. He hopes to pursue a doctorate and become a licensed psychologist. Brayan is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Bob Turner Scholars Internship and learn more about local government, leadership, and community engagement. He is interested in psychology, entrepreneurship, and finding ways to create positive change in his community. 

 

Darius Handini | State College, Pennsylvania

Darius Harandi is from State College, Pennsylvania, and will be attending Pennsylvania State University pursuing a degree in economics. Through his time in the ICMA Turner Scholars Internship Program, Darius is aiming to grasp a stronger understanding of not only the environment and day-to-day decisions within local government, but also the technical skills necessary to operate within. He is enthusiastic to meet and build relationships with people within all sectors of local government. 

 

Johnathan Haywood| Colquitt, Georgia

Johnathan Haywood is a graduate student at the University of West Georgia pursuing a master’s of public administration while serving as a resident director in the Office of Housing and Residence Life. Through his leadership experience in higher education, he has supervised and mentored student staff, managed residential communities, and worked to create an engaging and supportive campus environment. As an ICMA Bob Turner Scholar, Johnathan is passionate about ethical leadership, organizational excellence, and serving others. After graduating, he plans to pursue a career in higher education student affairs as an orientation coordinator or orientation manager, where he can welcome future students and their families, help them successfully transition to campus life, and create meaningful experiences that foster a strong sense of belonging from their first day on campus.

 

Soleil Hernandez | Sun N Lake of Sebring, Florida

Soleil Hernandez is a future USF Bull pursuing biomedical sciences, with her sights set on becoming a clinical pathologist. She spent all four years of high school immersed in band, playing saxophone in marching band and performing in indoor percussion as a xylophonist and visual dancer. Soleil has also been a Girl Scout for 12 years, an experience that helped spark her love for community service and her curiosity about how local government works behind the scenes. 

 

Marisol Mederos | Salinas, California

Marisol was born and raised in Salinas, California. She recently graduated from Alisal High School and plans to pursue a degree in political science from UCLA. Marisol’s interest includes advocating for the prevention of youth violence and for underrepresented communities. She plays an active role in her community by volunteering in nonprofits and speaking out about problems in the city. Through the Turner Scholars program, Marisol plans to enhance her networking skills and learn more about different careers in government. She is excited to get out of her comfort zone by getting exposure to new professional experiences and leadership roles. 

 

Shiv Patel | Salinas, California

Shiv was born and raised in Salinas, California, and is currently a sophomore pursuing a bachelor of science in accounting at California State University, Monterey Bay, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA and serves as an elected College of Business Senator representing over 1,000 students. Driven by a passion for community impact, Shiv works as an accounting intern supporting small businesses across the Monterey County region and has conducted research on AI's role in financial reporting. He is deeply committed to making financial education accessible to underserved and immigrant families, with a long-term goal of developing financial literacy programs rooted in Salinas. Through the Turner Scholars program, Shiv looks forward to exploring how local government and public policy can drive meaningful, lasting change in the community he proudly calls home.

 

Emerson Rand | State College, Pennsylvania

Emerson was born and raised in State College, Pennsylvania, having just graduated from high school, and will be attending Drexel University as a film major in the fall. Outside of school, Emerson likes hiking, photography, and watching movies and sports. Emerson also spent the year as the high school representative on the State College borough council, learning about local politics, and is looking forward to diving deeper into local government through this fellowship. Emerson hopes to gain some hands-on experience with community outreach, sustainability, and promoting the arts in the local community.

 

Collin Soper | Kansas City, Missouri

Collin Soper is a 17-year-old junior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he is majoring in political science with a minor in philosophy. He hopes to attend law school and become an attorney, and his interest in local government is rooted in his ambition to pursue a career in politics. Through his summer experience with ICMA and his municipal government, Collin hopes to gain valuable professional experience and a deeper understanding of local government.

 

Gabriel Tolbert | Douglasville, Georgia

Gabriel was born and raised in Douglasville, Georgia. He was an active participant in his schools Model UN, Theater Program, and as an International Baccalaureate Candidate. Having recently graduated, he continues to show interest in music, psychology, and local government. Knowing this, he is going to Georgia Southern University with a political science major and a psychology minor. He hopes to use this to either go into local law as a politician or become a lawyer in the future. He looks forward to his participation in the Bob Turner internship, and the knowledge and experience he will gain through it.

 

Bryan Viyegbe | Moline, Illinois

Bryan is from Moline, Illinois, and will enter Black Hawk College, where he plans to earn his associate’s degree before transferring to a four-year university to complete his bachelor’s degree. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with friends, especially eating sweet treats like ice cream or froyo, and playing volleyball and pickleball. He's excited to meet and work with others during this internship. Through this experience, Bryan hopes to learn more about how municipal government works.

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Interested in learning more about hosting a Bob Turner Intern in your community?  Email careers@icma.org.