On November 23, 2005 Keidra Lazard was hired into the Student Temporary Employee Program at USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services in Alexandria, Virginia as a GS-7.  In late September she attended a new employee orientation session in which a representative from each department was present, including the Director from Food Stamps, WIC, the Office of Analysis, Nutrition and Evaluation, and Human Resources.  The representatives described their department’s role in FNS. Remembering HACU’s message of the importance of networking and utilizing available resources, Keidra approached the HR director and generalists, introduced herself and asked for business cards.  After working for about a month in the Office of Regional Operations and experiencing how they were directly involved in providing food to the Hurricane Katrina victims, she was sure that FNS would be a place she would like to pursue a career. Keidra then emailed the HR director, Michael Yost, an FNS employee for over 35 years, to show interest in the Student Employment Programs and to ask if he had any literature outlining benefits and qualifications of the position.  He then asked her to submit a cover letter and resume and assured her that he would do all he could to get me an interview. About three weeks later Keidra received a call from the director of the Office of Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation requesting a meeting.  During the meeting, Keidra was asked to describe the project she had been working on, and what she hoped to do in the future. As an employee of OANE, she will gain experience in research and evaluation which is directly related to her plans to become a Research Analyst in the public service field.

Keidra Lazard Quote ~ My story is a testimony to a phrase that interns have been told many times, “An internship is what you make of it”.  I joined HACU as an undergraduate in 2002 and was accepted at the US Census Bureau as a Survey Analyst.  I was very reserved and timid.  I completed the tasks that was assigned to me but did not network or explore any opportunities.  I feel extremely lucky to have joined HACU as a graduate student and to be chosen to work at FNS/USDA.  

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