Director Melendez introduces students to LM’s practices, work culture
July 20, 2026
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U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) STEM interns participated in a boot camp in partnership with Pre-College University (PCU), allowing interns to grow their skills and understand the mission of LM.
This summer, a fresh group of talented, handpicked students joined the LM STEM Summer Internship Program. From May 27 to May 30, LM interns engaged in an intensive boot camp hosted with the help of PCU at the LM Operations Center in Westminster, Colorado. Through the collaborative effort of LM and PCU, the boot camp was designed to provide interns with the interpersonal and technical skills needed for their professional and personal journeys.
The Foundation: Professional Skills and Leadership
PCU’s motto, “Preparing you for what you should know before you go,” served as the framework for the boot camp. Over the course of the event, interns participated in workshops focused on networking, budgeting, public speaking, communication skills, and project management. Tina Ross, LM Support Partner (LMSP) education specialist, highlighted the value of these lessons, noting that the boot camp is “just for you to learn and grow for now and the immediate future.”
But technical skills are only half the equation. Understanding the “why” behind the work is just as important. In addition to career-readiness training, interns were introduced to LM’s practices and work culture by LM Director Carmelo Melendez, who spoke about LM’s history and mission, including LM’s responsibility to protect communities, manage legacy land, and preserve historical records. This discussion gave the interns a clear sense of purpose before they even arrived at their assigned field sites.
STEM with LM Program Manager Shawn Montgomery emphasized the importance of the interns learning the history of LM, saying, “It was important for interns to learn the history and mission of LM, so they remember the ‘why’ behind our work. Understanding our past helps them see the lasting impact of their projects.”
Creating the Standard: Strengthening Connections and Building Confidence
Environmental stewardship is a joint multigenerational effort, and so the boot camp emphasized teamwork. PCU’s involvement in the boot camp was “self-serving as well as serving,” according to Clarence Brown, PCU founder and executive director, as he was able to exercise his passion for talking to students and filling skill gaps that interns may have while the interns bonded, grew, and created connections.
The boot camp sent a message about LM’s culture of teamwork and belonging. It was a chance for interns to build their confidence and soft skills alongside LM and LMSP staff while being welcomed to LM. For Brown, this internship is “our opportunity to show them that they belong in the room.”
While the boot camp provided interns with professional development, it also helped build relationships between interns, mentors, and other LM staff.
On the first evening of the boot camp, interns participated in the Warrior Challenge, a physical activity that prompted them to use their communication and leadership skills to finish obstacles. For Kyra Farmer, a Geodatabase intern at the LM Field Support Center in Grand Junction, Colorado, and a senior at North Carolina Central University, this challenge encouraged positive interactions between interns. “The warrior arena really helped me get along with the girls. I feel like I can depend on them,” Farmer said.
Similarly, Elon Tullock, an Environmental Management intern at the Weldon Spring Site in Missouri and a recent graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, found that informal conversations and networking activities helped her step out of her comfort zone. “Although I am naturally more reserved when meeting new people, I quickly felt comfortable opening up. I connected well with the other interns and built meaningful relationships, which made the experience feel welcoming and collaborative instead of isolating.”
Bridging the Gap: Mentorship and Site Visits
The boot camp also gave LM leaders a chance to learn from the incoming class. Kevin McCarthy, LMSP Education Programs manager, spent time chatting one-on-one with the interns throughout the week. These casual discussions allowed him the chance to understand the interns’ unique perspectives and career aspirations beyond their formal job assignments. “You know, a little one-on-one time, that’s been really helpful for me,” McCarthy said.
Additionally, interns met other LM staff at the LM Operations Center. During a networking activity, LM staff and interns shared stories about their daily duties and ongoing projects, reinforcing a sense of community, mentorship, and shared purpose. The mentorship experience for interns is “going to make this program live for now and for the future,” Ross said.
Materializing the Impact: Designing Their Contribution to the Mission
To wrap up the boot camp, interns created and delivered presentations detailing their upcoming summer projects, site locations, corresponding missions, and personal goals. These presentations highlighted how each intern fits into LM’s broader environmental stewardship mission regardless of their academic background and summer assignment.
For Ariana Smith, a soil calibration researcher at the LM Field Support Center and a junior at Texas Southern University, the supportive atmosphere allowed her to bring her authentic self to work. “Witnessing the interpersonal dynamics between interns, PCU staff, and LM staff showed me the importance of showing up as my true self,” Smith said.
The boot camp ended with a heartfelt ceremony where interns received their PCU pins and said their goodbyes. Armed with new skills, professional mentors, and a tight-knit network of peers, the interns departed for their respective field sites across the country. In just a few days, they had learned and internalized what it means to be a part of “One Team, One Mission.”