For the third year in a row, The Crucible is featuring Fuego – a leadership and internship program for high school students sponsored by Custom Alloy Scrap Sales – during the 2012 Fired-Up Summer Youth Program.

Bay Area industrial arts school, The Crucible, is hosting its third summer leadership and internship program for high school students, Fuego, from July 30 until August 3 and again from August 6 until August 10. In 2012, Fuego interns will work with instructors in planning and running classes in their chosen areas of artistic study.

“These days our youth are consumed by TV, X-Box or iPods and miss the opportunity to transform their ideas into reality,” says Edward B. Kangeter IV, Chief Executive Officer of Custom Alloy Scrap Sales (CASS), sponsor of Fuego. “CASS is committed to supporting The Crucible’s internships to ensure youth have a safe environment to explore their imagination and create industrial art with their own hands.”

During the Fuego summer internship program, paid interns will focus on their artistic development and technical skills, learn leadership skills, support The Crucible’s youth classes, and also get the chance to discuss professional development and exhibition preparation with well established, Bay Area based artists.

“We sponsor this initiative because we feel the positive experience of imagining, creating and sharing their art with others provides critical lessons that will serve these children well as they develop into adults,” says Kangeter IV.

Interns actively participate in the organization and implementation of the youth summer camps, as well as in leadership development and training components that take place before, during and after camp classes.

Fuego began in 2010 with six students selected to intern for faculty in welding, foundry, glass flameworking, jewelry and blacksmithing. It quickly expanded to include 12 interns, three apprentices, and a broader range of internship fields with the help of its sponsor, CASS.

Local businesses interested in sponsoring Fuego and students interested in signing up for the 2013 program can call (510) 250-3687 or visit TheCrucible.org to find out more information. The Crucible is located in West Oakland at 1260 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94605.