Report Problem
Translate
While some students spend their summer break by the pool, Louisville Water’s Summer Helpers are diving into real-world work experience.
The three-month program, which began informally in 2005, helps support increased summer workloads and provide employees’ college-aged children an opportunity to earn money, develop new skills, and explore potential career paths.
“One of the best parts of this program is watching students discover careers they may not have known existed,” said Lorna Bille, Louisville Water’s Human Resources Coordinator. “Even when a position isn’t directly related to their field of study, they gain valuable experience working as part of a team and leave with new skills and a broader understanding of the many careers that support Louisville Water.”
Summer Helper applicants must be relatives of a current or retired Louisville Water employee, at least 18 years old, and enrolled in a college, university, or trade school.
This summer, students are working in departments across the company, including Water Quality and Research, Customer Service, Facilities, and Risk Management. For many, the experience offers a firsthand look at careers they may have never considered.
That’s certainly true for Bellarmine University sophomore Ron’Neal Flippins, who is spending his summer in Risk Management.
“Overall, it was very welcoming… given I’m so young, and everybody has some experience that they can share,” Flippins said.
Throughout the summer, Flippins has worked with multiple areas within the department, gaining exposure to different aspects of the business.
“I’ve been visiting our Allmond (Avenue) and B.E. Payne sites securing and walking around the sites to see how the gates look,” he explained. “And now I’m with insurance, working on that.”
Across the company, students are discovering new perspectives and building confidence through hands-on work.
University of Kentucky sophomore, Paige Malone and University of Kansas junior, Marissa Foster are spending their summer in Facilities, helping maintain Louisville Water’s properties and grounds. The work has included everything from repairing fences to landscaping and grounds maintenance at Louisville Water facilities.
“It’s something different every day and we don’t have to sit in one spot 24/7,” Malone said.
For Malone, the experience has also pushed her outside her comfort zone.
“It just shows me never to get too comfortable and to try new things. You’ve got to get your hands dirty sometimes,” she shared.
Foster said the summer job has given her a new appreciation for work she might not otherwise have experienced.
“It’s a different experience, which I’m glad I have because it’s a different perspective,” Foster said.
Those lessons are exactly what the Summer Helper program is designed to provide: real-world experience, exposure to different careers, and skills that students can carry with them long after summer ends.
“My ultimate goal is that every Summer Helper leaves with more confidence than they had on their first day,” Bille said. “Watching these students grow from year to year is one of the most rewarding parts of coordinating this program. Whether they return to Louisville Water one day or pursue another career, I hope they remember this as a place where they learned, grew, and were encouraged to ask questions.”
The Summer Helper program runs through mid-August. Students will return to school with a better understanding of the work that keeps Louisville Pure Tap® flowing every day.
Thank you to all the 2026 Summer Helpers for your hard work, curiosity, and willingness to learn. We also thank Louisville Water’s leaders and teams who welcomed these students, shared their knowledge, and helped create a meaningful summer experience. We can’t wait to see where these students’ journeys take them next.
