SUMMER INTERNSHIPS
Investing in successful futures
Internships are key to helping students connect the knowledge they gain through their academic experiences in a setting outside the classroom and, in today’s employment landscape, they are also important for successful post-graduate outcomes.
With the help of the Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections, our students are pursuing summer internships to explore career opportunities, experience diverse work environments, develop industry-specific skills, and grow their professional networks.
Through the support of generous friends and alumni, summer internship funding allows more students to immerse themselves in on-the-job training, providing monetary support to investigate career options, develop key competencies, and link classroom learning to the world of work.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
“The gallery scene and the art world are so competitive, I knew it would be really important for me to get my foot in the door through an internship. Without internship funding I wouldn’t have been able to take an unpaid internship and pursue something I’m really passionate about, especially in a city like New York.”
Alexandra Jerejian ’19
Major: Art history and political science
Interned at James Fuentes LLC in NYC
“Internship funding allowed me to pursue the best opportunity, not the one that would leave me least financially strained. These funds can help with everything from housing to transportation to living expenses so that you’re able to focus completely on achieving the best internship experience.”
Jamal Holtz ’20
Major: Political science
Interned for Markus Batchelor, State Board of Education in Washington D.C.
ONE STUDENT'S STORY
As Obed Badillo Moreno approached his senior year at the University of Rochester, he knew an internship would be crucial to his post-graduate success. Badillo Moreno, an international student, was looking for an experience that would marry his professional interest in the aerospace industry with his personal mission to connect people through technology.
“Growing up in Mexico we had very limited resources and I often wondered why our lives were so different,” he says. “Since then, I’ve been passionate about wanting to do everything I can to improve the lives of others.”
He found that opportunity in his internship at OneWeb, a technology company specializing in Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations. Drawn to the organization’s goal of bridging the digital divide and connecting people around the world who have limited resources, Badillo Moreno worked as a junior site design engineer. With the assistance of summer internship funding to cover the cost of housing and transportation, he was able to immerse himself fully in this one-of-a-kind experience, even traveling to Palermo, Italy to work on the installation of OneWeb’s first Satellite Network Portal site.
Today, he has made lasting connections that have laid the foundation for a successful future. “High-level internships can be one of the most important way to differentiate yourself,” he says. “Receiving funding to support my summer internship led to opportunities that didn’t exist before, and truly changed the trajectory of my life.”
Obed Badillo Moreno ’19
Major: Mechanical engineering
Interned at OneWeb in Melbourne, Florida
WHY OUR ALUMNI GIVE
As a University of Rochester alum, businessman, and proud parent of two UR graduates, Tony Graham understands the doors that a Rochester education can open. In fact, it was one of the primary reasons he began lending his support to the University’s Summer Internship Program more than five years ago.
“Companies increasingly use internships as a gateway to find full-time employees,” he says. “Students with internships gain valuable industry experience while they improve their career prospects and early career opportunities.”
For Graham, providing more students with the resources to take advantage of these opportunities isn’t just rewarding, it’s essential in an increasingly competitive job market. “If students can think less about funding their internships, and more about exploring their potential career passions, I can’t think of a better investment in their long-term success.”
Tony Graham ’81, P’15, P’18
The Greene Center is constantly developing new and innovative ways for students to pursue successful careers in diverse fields.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
Invest in ambition
Summer internship funds cover travel or living expenses and can allow students to participate in experiences that let them explore and gain critical competencies for their career planning. Experiences can range across any of our career communities from the public sector to the arts to engineering or law. Help us expand these opportunities by making a gift to support summer internships, here
Become a volunteer
Volunteers play an important role in the Greene Center programming. Network with students through events, online networks, or mentorship programs; educate through workshops and webinars; or recruit our talented students. Learn more about these opportunities below.
Recruit our students
The Greene Center can work with you to identify, recruit, and hire the talent you need for long-term success. If you’re interested in offering internships or full-time roles to students, contact Megan Vargulick at megan.vargulick@rochester.edu.
Questions
For more information about Industry Road Trips, or to learn more about the many ways you can partner with the Greene Center, contact Michelle Marks-Hook at michelle.marks-hook@rochester.edu.