Four local high school seniors will spend their summer serving the community through the Baldwin County Utilities Internship Program, gaining hands-on experience in city government and public service.

The students were welcomed into city positions during a ceremony at the Baldwin County Preparatory Academy. The interns were selected through a competitive process in which 44 students earned internship placements across Baldwin County from a pool of 140 applicants.

Beginning June 1, the rising seniors will work alongside experienced city employees, developing technical skills, workplace experience and a better understanding of the city operations that serve Foley residents each day.

This marks the second year that Foley has participated in the award-winning internship program.

“We’re proud to welcome these four exceptional students to the city of Foley,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said. “This internship isn’t just about gaining experience — it’s about building a pathway for our young people to step into meaningful careers. When we invest in our students, we invest in Foley’s future, and I’m excited to see the impact they will make in the years ahead.”

The 2026 City of Foley interns are:

  • Zoya Krasilnikov, Baldwin Preparatory Academy — administrative assistant, Planning and Development
  • Karlie Jones, Foley High School — administrative assistant, General Government
  • Jax Freeman, Foley High School — street maintenance worker, Public Works
  • Riley Johnson, Foley High School — building inspections, Planning and Development

The Baldwin County Utilities Internship Program connects students with career opportunities in municipal operations and utilities. Recognized as one of Alabama’s Top 18 Work-Based Learning Best Practices, the program provides students with valuable experience in high-demand public service fields.

Students selected for the program worked closely with school career coaches to prepare resumes and complete interviews as part of the application process.

The internship program is a collaborative effort among school systems and workforce partners aimed at strengthening career readiness while developing a future workforce for essential infrastructure and public service roles.