A Martin County High School student is transforming his passion for visual storytelling into a concrete career foundation, utilizing EKCEP’s Prosper Appalachia initiative to transition from entry-level employment into high-level technical production.
Spencer Jude recently completed a comprehensive media internship with The Mountain Citizen newspaper through Prosper Appalachia, which connects young people with hands-on career exploration and work-based learning opportunities.
While professional internships in specialized creative fields can be difficult to access for high school students in rural regions, Prosper Appalachia coordinates directly with regional high schools and employers to build localized talent pipelines. Through this structure, Jude was matched with The Mountain Citizen, where the staff fully integrated him into their active production.
During his year-long internship, Jude managed complex photography and videography assignments, even traveling to capture content for the newspaper. His responsibilities included managing equipment, gathering field clips, and executing independent side projects. To support his professional growth, the news outlet invested directly in his toolset, providing equipment to expand his production capabilities.
“This was really kind of my first step into a ‘big boy job,’” Jude said. “I got to travel, I got to do everything I love doing, and I got paid for it. It helped me learn a sense of financial stability on how to handle money, having an actual income, what to do with it, and what to not do with it. Overall, it just helped me grow as a person.”
Prosper Appalachia helps young adults gain meaningful paid work experience close to home, giving them the chance to build professional skills and portfolios without feeling like they have to leave Eastern Kentucky to get started. For Jude, who had previously worked in fast food, the earnings allowed him to invest in his long-term financial independence, funding his vehicle, personal insurance, and specialized camera gear.
“Anyone who wants to join the Prosper Appalachia program, it helps a lot,” Jude added. “It gives you work experience, it gives you good money, and it’s also good people. You can earn jobs, money, and everything in between from it.”
After the internship ended, Jude’s experience led to a long-term job offer from the newspaper. Armed with an expanded portfolio, industry connections, and hands-on business maturity, Jude plans to continue taking his digital media career to a higher professional level.
Prosper Appalachia is funded in part through support from the Kentucky General Assembly, but private donations help EKCEP expand critical work experience opportunities for students across Eastern Kentucky. To invest in the future of our region’s young people, donate directly at ekcep.org/donate.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network.