NEW PORT RICHEY — Both of the River Ridge High School engineering academy students, Austin Gable and Arielle Pfaff, say they've always had a knack for putting things together and making them work. And both put that knack to good use this summer as they participated in summer internships at a Mercedes-Benz manufacturing plant in Germany.
Gable, a 17-year-old senior, was awarded a Daimler summer internship at a Mercedes factory in Wörth, Germany, for two weeks during June. He worked as part of an arrangement between the Pasco County School District and the German exchange program, facilitated by River Ridge teacher Andrea Newbolds.
"I've been wanting to work in a factory since I was a child," said Gable. "I always liked being creative, taking tools and building stuff."
After accruing early mechanical experience at River Ridge's engineering academy — where students learn about the aspects of engineering and computer-aided design through study and internships — and as an assistant at Gable Window Replacement, a family-owned business, Gable was eager to participate in the Daimler internship, an opportunity he learned about when his family hosted a German exchange student last school year.
"The student's father worked at the Mercedes-Benz plant," said Gable, "and he let me know about the internship."
Upon learning through her German teacher about Gable's internship, Pfaff decided that she also wanted to apply for the program.
"I thought if he can do it, why can't I?" said Pfaff, a 17-year-old senior.
Pfaff, whose family is involved in the telecommunications industry, says she also has enjoyed a lifelong flair for the creative and mechanical.
"My family loves the outdoors, and I've helped them build cabins," she said. "So being able to attend the engineering school at River Ridge was a win-win situation."
Also a plus, in the eyes of both students, was that they got to participate in a cultural exchange program in conjunction with their internship. One day would find them learning both the decorative and the mechanical aspects of car design at the Mercedes-Benz plant.
"I got a lot of hands-on experience, and got to do a personal project," said Pfaff. "I got to make a design of my mom's corgi dog to put on the side of her car."
"I did tasks with wire cables," said Gable.
The next day found them exploring German castles and visiting colleges in the area.
"This exchange program was occupational," said Gable, "not just cultural."
And in the eyes of Janene Sullivan, assistant principal and head of the German program at River Ridge, both students earned and deserved the unique learning opportunity.
"They found the door themselves, they opened it and they stepped through it," Sullivan said. "They worked hard to get it done. And in exchange they got an experience that will stay with them all of their lives."