The ICMA Turner Scholars Internship Program is a career-development opportunity with a focus on mentorship designed to attract high school students to local government. By partnering with local governments and the manager’s office, the program offers an internship experience that demonstrates a nuts and bolts understanding of what managers do and how they do it, relying on the core values that guide their management practices and inform their decisions. Host communities participating in the program are provided a stipend for program “scholars” who intern in the manager’s office over the summer and are provided biweekly programming facilitated by ICMA. 

Former ICMA member James Kean began his career working as an intern for E. Robert "Bob" Turner, while he was city manager of Boulder, Colorado. He believes that the lessons he learned from his mentor Bob Turner prepared him for a successful career and a life of integrity and passion. Kean established a $750,000 endowment in Bob Turner’s name to ensure students have an opportunity to serve a local government as interns under the guidance of ICMA member mentors. 

This year, five local governments are participating in the program: Douglasville, Georgia; Salinas, California; State College, Pennsylvania; Moline, Illinois; and Anna, Texas.

Natalia Chavez | Salinas, California

Natalia is from Salinas and will be a high school senior this upcoming school year. Natalia plans to go to either UC San Diego or San Diego State University to major in psychology, with the intention of pursuing a doctorate and becoming a psychiatrist. Natalia likes meeting new people and creating connections and hopes to branch out within the community and learn how to work diligently and effectively through the Turner Scholars Program. 

Janii Corneh | Douglasville, Georgia

Hailing from Douglasville, Georgia, Janii enjoys dancing, reading, and spending time with friends and family. A recent high school graduate, this fall, Janii will be attending Spelman College as an economics major. Janii is interested in learning more about local government in a collaborative and interactive atmosphere. Upon program completion, Janii hopes to leverage her knowledge by participating in clubs and organizations on her college campus to make an impact.

Stephen Fowler | State College, Pennsylvania

Stephen Fowler was born in Seattle, Washington, and lives in State College, Pennsylvania, where he is an avid runner, debater, and chef. As a recent high school graduate, he will attend Dartmouth in the fall, where he will pursue law school to work as a public defender or work in local government. Stephen is excited to participate in the Turner Scholars Internship program, as a chance to give back to the community. In particular, working in the public transportation sector and helping State College move away from plastic bag use are two of his priority interests. 

Jocelyn Garcia | Salinas, California

Joceyln lives in Salinas, California, and plans to obtain a bachelor’s degree in legal studies or political science at the University of California Berkeley. Jocelyn is interested in learning about governance and how it fundamentally contributes to a community’s landscape. During her time in the ICMA Turner Scholars Internship Program, Jocelyn looks forward to networking with government agencies and receiving mentorship on how to implement projects that will help her community. She also hopes to gain insight into the structures of the government and how to effectively negotiate issues as they affect neighborhoods, such as the environment, roads, safety hazards, and businesses.

 

 

Nayeli Gil-Silva | Salinas, California

Nayeli was born and raised in Salinas, California, with family roots in Mexico. She will be a senior in high school this upcoming school year and plans to become a physical therapist. Nayeli looks forward to being able to see the way her hometown of Salinas functions through the perspective of local government management. She hopes to gain insight into how the city makes executive decisions to benefit the community 

 

 

 

Kayla Gonzalez | Salinas, California

Kayla is from Salinas and in the fall will be attending Johns Hopkins University while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in medicine, science, and the humanities. Kayla values being involved in her community and spending any free time she has dancing for community events as a part of her nonprofit organization, Luna Creciente. Through the Turner Scholars program, Kayla hopes to learn more about how she can contribute to her community through work with professionals, and to gain a more informed perspective of local government as someone with a health-centered focus.

 

 

Andrea Lagasca| Salinas, California

Andrea’s family is from the Philippines, and she was born and raised in Salinas. Andrea graduated as valedictorian from Notre Dame High School and plans to pursue a degree in political science from UCLA. Her interests extend to neuroscience, psychology, law, and civil justice, especially pertaining to women and minorities. She volunteers in her community at the local food bank, and  works with her school to educate and destigmatize topics related to women’s health. Through the Turner Scholars program, Andrea looks forward to meeting like-minded, passionate individuals, and learning about the inner workings of government. She hopes the experience will prepare her for college, enhance her awareness of government efforts that often go unseen, broaden her knowledge of public administration, and offer her exposure to how policy is established and implemented.

 

 

Ricardo Owen-Regalado | Salinas, California

Ricardo is a proud Rancho San Juan High School graduate, born and raised in Salinas, California. Ricardo’s interests include advocacy for underrepresented communities and creating positive environments within communities. Ricardo stays active in his community and plans to attend law school and hopes to one day start his own law firm. In terms of the Turner Scholars program, Ricardo is most excited about the opportunity to collaborate and network with peers and experts within the government field. Through this internship experience, Ricardo aspires to learn the ins and outs of government operations.

 

 

Ahmad Shirzad | Anna, Texas

Ahmad is a high school student from Anna, Texas, and his hobbies include working out, volunteering, and exploring science and medicine. Ahmad plans to become a doctor and is passionate about leadership, helping others, and staying involved in the community. Through the Turner Scholars program, Ahmad looks forward to learning how local government works and seeing how decisions are made that impact the community. He is also excited to meet new people, build professional skills, and get real-world experience and a better understanding of leadership and public service.

 

 

Kristen Sottos | Moline, Illinois

Kristen is from Davenport, Iowa, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, opposite Moline, Illinois. A recent high school graduate, Kristen will attend the University of Iowa in the fall. Through the Turner Scholars program, Kristen is most excited to learn about how a city operates and what comes with that responsibility. 

 

 

 

Keely McGrath | Anna, Texas

Keely is from Anna, Texas, and graduated from Anna High School in spring 2025. Keely will be attending the University of Arkansas in the fall to pursue a degree in architecture and give back to her community through architecture. As a Turner Scholar, Keely is excited to learn how the different departments of a city government interact, and to make new connections and explore interests. Specifically, Keely would like to learn more about how cities establish and regulate public art and to develop her public speaking skills while serving the people of Anna.  

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Interested in learning more about hosting a Bob Turner Intern in your community?  Email careers@icma.org.