Curtis Ando was the son of a Japanese American incarceree from Heart Mountain and a farmer who was one of the few Japanese Americans who lived in Park County before the war. After graduating from Powell High School, where he was a basketball and football star, Curtis joined the Marines.

Curtis was tragically killed in Vietnam on Jan. 2, 1967, while serving with the 3rd Tank Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division.

The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation will honor his sacrifice and memory with a second Curtis Ando Internship for eligible Park County high school students (including homeschoolers). Supported by an anonymous donor, the internship will provide the opportunity to work within a museum setting and help with multiple research and educational activities related to the World War II incarceration of more than 125,000 Japanese Americans, the Ando story, and the tragedies of bigotry and war. 

“We know how important local support has been to the creation and preservation of Heart Mountain, our interpretive center, and the new Mineta-Simpson Institute. This internship is a chance for us to return that support by paying a deserving local student to learn more about our history while working at Heart Mountain,” HMWF said.

Interns will assist with visitor and store relations, educational events, archiving, research, work at the front desk and more.

Interested students can learn more about the program and how to apply at: heartmountain.org/internship/

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on March 20. Heart Mountain leadership and staff will review the applications and select each intern.