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MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) -Students have started working as interns at Diamondback Energy this week.

This is a part of the Summer Earn and Learn program.

The Summer Earn and Learn program is a statewide initiative to offer students with disabilities between the ages of fourteen to twenty-two.

This initiative is a partnership with the Texas Workforce Solutions.

The program provides students with work readiness training and paid work experience.

It provides students and a job coach with valuable employment skills while they are working.

“Right now, I am learning computer skills and how to send emails and stuff like that. So, I am hoping that helps in the future.” said SEAL Intern Aubreyanna Marquez.

Students greet clients, stock the refrigerator, work on expense reports, and inventory, and fill out spreadsheets.

The goal is to increase their confidence and to help them feel comfortable when they start their first job.

“I am really shy, and it helps to look people in the eye and talk to be louder and more confident with what I am saying and to start conversations.” said Aubreyanna Marquez.

The Summer Earn and Learn program aims to help students with disabilities.

“We want our students to know that they are capable of holding down a job going to college just like any student served in MISD. We want them to know they have value and that they are capable of more than what they were capable of.” said Job Coach for SEAL Program Yvonne Salazar

Diamondback Energy got involved in the SEAL program because they want to help students be better prepared for the workforce.

“Empowering our future leaders and that means all future leaders. We started with the Rolling Barista initiative and saw that our kids had great potential and it was an organic natural step to move into a summer internship.” said Diamondback Energy Corp Affairs Ashley Colquitt.