b'InternsINLs internship programthe decision to continue with provides immense value to the laboratory and to the studentsthe internship program was no who participate. For the lab, the internship programsmall challenge. the effort was serves as an important source of talented, early- recognized with a 2020 Laboratory career individuals who bringDirectors Vision Awarddiverse backgrounds and fresh ideas to our workforce. For students, the programa normal year, INL wouldthe laboratory, the effortenables collaboration withwelcome hundreds ofwas recognized with aexperienced scientists andstudents to east Idaho from2020 Laboratory Directors engineers and the opportunityaround the country for on-siteVision Award.to apply the lessons learnedinternships. When the realitiesDespite the challenges of the in the classroom to developof the COVID-19 pandemicpandemic, INL was able to innovative solutions tomade such a programmaintain participation levels challenging, real-worldimpossible for most studentsin the internship program projects. The internshipin FY-20, INL quickly pivotedyear-over-year. INL hosted program is a key componentto offering virtual internships469 interns from 114 different to INL and the Departmentinstead. The lab recognizedinstitutions in FY-20,of Energys talent pipeline.the importance of honoringmostly in a teleworking While the largest percentageits commitments to studentsformat. Interns continued of INL interns are pursuingand continuing to provideto contribute to meaningful STEM-related degrees such asopportunities in a time ofresearch projects, worked computer science, chemistry,uncertainty. This dedication closely with their mentors and nuclear engineering, materialsto the internship program colleagues, and participated in science and mechanicalset the model for othervaluable enrichment activities engineering, there are alsolaboratories to do the same.like resume-building and many students majoringDespite being the obviousinterview skills workshops, in topics like finance,choice, the decision tofacility tours and social events communications and continue with the internship all while telecommuting project management. program was no smallfrom over 30 different states.Perhaps none of the programschallenge. Requiringoffered by INLs Universitycountless hours of work Partnerships organizationand innovative technology was affected more by thesolutions from both the COVID-19 pandemic thaninternships team and the internship program. Incolleagues from around2020 Annual Report 8'