Prince William County Celebrates 2026 Summer Internship Program Graduates

Prince William County recently celebrated the students who completed the county’s 2026 Summer Internship Program, recognizing the next generation of professionals as they concluded eight weeks of hands-on learning and public service.  

The annual program provides students with meaningful opportunities to explore careers in local government while gaining practical experience, developing professional skills and building connections with county employees and leadership.  

This year's cohort included 30 interns from 22 colleges and universities who worked across 19 county agencies. Throughout the summer, interns contributed to projects that supported county operations while gaining valuable real-world experience. 

In addition to their department assignments, interns participated in professional development workshops, networking opportunities with county leadership and immersive experiences that provided a broader understanding of how local government serves the community. The program included visits to county facilities, meetings with county leaders and collaborative learning opportunities that exposed interns to a wide range of public service careers. 

“This internship helps you grow and helps you find what path you want to take,” said Siya Shah, an intern with Human Resources. 

Throughout the summer, participating county agencies engaged students in meaningful projects that supported county operations while providing valuable professional experience. Highlights included developing a voter outreach program with the Office of Elections, teaching local youth how to create their own films through Prince William Public Libraries and developing applications with the Department of Information Technology to improve access to county services. 

“This has been very informative in terms of what I want to do with my future career,” said Ananya Rajkumar, an intern with the County Attorney’s Office. 

County Executive Chris Shorter said the program reflects the county's commitment to developing future public service leaders while creating meaningful opportunities for students to gain professional experience. 

"Our Summer Internship Program is about more than giving students work experience," Shorter said. "It's about investing in the next generation of public servants, helping them develop the skills and confidence to succeed while bringing fresh ideas and new perspectives that strengthen our organization and better serve our community."