SCEP gives college students federal government opportunity Published Aug. 29, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Stacy Sanchez 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- At Edwards, the Student Career Experience Program, also known as the Co-Operative Education Program, gives college students the opportunity to get first-hand experience in a federal government job before completing their degrees. The SCEP is a planned progressive educational program that provides for the integration of a student's academic studies and work experience, said Ms. Linda Gutman, Air Force Flight Test Center SCEP coordinator. This has the potential of a non-competitive conversion to a permanent position in the federal government. "As of this year, we have a total of 40 students in various career fields who work on base while they are going to school," Ms. Gutman said. "After they meet the requirements of our program and graduate, we can convert them to a permanent position on base." Of the 40 students in the program, 75 percent are aerospace electrical or mechanical engineers. The other 25 percent are in the financial management, contracting or aircraft engine maintenance fields. The students come from colleges around California as well as out-of-state colleges like Purdue University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Cincinnati. Matthew Smerk, a California State University Northridge graduate, said he looked at the Co-Op program as an extended interview. "It was a chance for me to see if I wanted to make a career working at a military facility in a test environment," Mr. Smerk said. "Working in the 775th Flight Test Squadron avionics lab allowed me to demonstrate my abilities as a student engineer to many of the different flight chiefs who are responsible for filling full-time engineering positions." Mr. Smerk is now a full-time employee at Edwards. Ms. Gutman said the program benefits both the agencies on Edwards as well as the students. "For Edwards, we are able to see how these college students before we hire them and see if they fit into the career field before they graduate," Ms. Gutman said. "The advantages for the students are that they are able to get hands-on experience while going to school. They also get to see if working for the government is something they might like to do." There is no formal application to apply for the program, but students must meet the certain requirements. Students who are interested in the program must be United State citizens and at least 16 years of age. Students must be in a good standing in an appropriate academic program with a cumulative grade point average not less than a 2.0. Students are also required to have a half-time course load. Ms. Gutman said she needs a resume and an unofficial transcript from the college students. "I recommend this program to any college students thinking about entering one of these career fields," said Dursun Tepeli, a California State University Northridge Senior. "It is a great way for engineering students like myself to develop many useful skills for our career development. It allows students to think critically, and makes them better problem solvers." For more information about the Student Career Experience Program, call Ms. Gutman at 277-8154.