NATCHEZ — When Natchez High School senior Trey Hill is not running cross-country or honing his golf skills, he is working as a one-man welcome wagon to Natchez’s visitors.

Hill is engaged in workforce learning at the Fallin Career and Technology Center on the Natchez High campus — a co-op program through the Mississippi Cooperative Education and Career Pathway Experience.

Martha Jane Ratcliff, who leads the program, said students leave school early and attend their part-time jobs for at least 15 hours a week.

Ratcliff said in general, the co-op program is an opportunity for young people to gain work experience and make their own money at the same time.

Hill works in the maintenance department at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center.

Hill said the first thing he does when he gets to the visitor’s center is to check the restrooms and drink vending area, keeping both neat and tidy. He also fills in at the cash register, washes the windows and cleans the fountains. But his favorite duty has to be greeting visitors who come to tour Natchez.

“Let’s say they walk in sweaty,” Hill said. “I say, ‘It’s hot out here, isn’t it?’ Just being friendly.”

The hardworking senior said he also tries to go out of his way to get the door for people, even if his hands are full of maintenance equipment.

“This is my first real job,” Hill said.

Hill’s friendly nature can work for him in his future career — Hill said he wants to be a city planner.

“That was always my goal,” Hill said. “Ever since I was little.”

But for now, Hill said he loves his job keeping the visitor’s center looking nice.

“There’s something about being able to walk around,” Hill said. “I don’t like to sit still.”

Hill said a few memorable moments at the visitor’s center include the announcement of Elevance, a new industry coming to Adams County, and the ribbon cutting for the Natchez Trails Project. Hill said he was only setting up chairs, tents and handing out water, but being a part of it all was a neat experience.

Hill said of the four classes on his academic schedule, Biology II is his favorite, even though his career plans will take him on a path away from life science. Hill said he would like to attend Auburn University on a Marine ROTC scholarship.

Ratcliff said she has many outstanding students, and Hill is certainly one of them.

“He’s energized, he participates, he’s outgoing,” Ratcliff said. “And he has an A-average right now.”

His parents are Royal and Lavada Hill.