Johnston County Recognizes Summer Interns and Highlights Local Government Opportunities
Smithfield, N.C.- The Johnston County Board of Commissioners recognized this year’s class of summer interns during their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. More than a dozen high school and college students gained valuable work experience this summer through internships across multiple County departments.
Interns learned skills across several disciplines working with professionals in County departments including: 911 Communications, Cooperative Extension, Public Information, Board of Elections, Administration, Tourism, Technology Services, Human Resources, Internal Audit, and Emergency Services. Several placements were made in partnership with NCWorks NextGen, a program funded by the Capital Area Workforce Development Board and operated locally by Johnston County Industries. NextGen provides eligible youth with career counseling, job training, and paid internships designed to prepare them for future employment.
During the Board meeting, Commissioners encouraged more students to consider interning with the County. “Local government provides a lot of opportunities,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Butch Lawter. “I’d encourage young people to take a look at these internships and see what’s out there.”
The following students participated in Johnston County’s 2025 summer internship program:
Abigail Gallegos – Public Information Office
Hayden Gray – 911 Communications
Preston Gray – 911 Communications
Daniel Harmon – Cooperative Extension
Nicholas Howard – Board of Elections
Caitlin Kyle – Administration
Emily Prickett – Tourism and Administration
Joseph Snow – Technology Services
Morgan Wells – Administration
Brashear Bryant – Human Resources
Jackson Hunnicutt – Internal Audit
Clayton Johnson – Emergency Services
Kate Spivey – Heritage Center and Ava Gardner Museum
Summer internships typically begin in March or April, with additional opportunities available year-round. To learn more about internships with Johnston County Government, contact Human Resources at (919) 989-5161 or visit JohnstonNC.gov/jobs.
Pictured left to right in attached photo: Clayton Johnson, Brashear Bryant, Jackson Honeycutt, and Kate Spivey
