Student Internships

STEM Internship Program (SIP)

nConnect’s 2013 STEM Internship Program provides high school students a chance to receive hands-on exposure to educational and career opportunities in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. Its goal is to inspire students to pursue additional education and careers in a STEM field.

These unpaid 90-100 hour internships help students gain work experience in a STEM-related career that they want to pursue, while earning a high school 1/2 credit.

During their internship, the students obtain real-world, hands-on work experience and are exposed to professionals within the STEM fields. They have the opportunity to conduct informational interviews with these professionals to learn further about possible careers and career pathways.

Students will come to understand what a typical workday looks like, gain an understanding of workplace culture, and have a better sense of workplace expectations around professional attire, use of technology, and general communication. They also will learn what level of education they will need to pursue their chosen career, and learn about other career pathways within their industry of interest.

At the same time, the students grow their understanding of work expectations and acquire the necessary professionalism and soft-skills such as oral and written communication, punctuality, organization, time management, etc. to be successful in the workplace.

nConnect partners with local employers to provide the internships. Students learn about potential careers and about the preparation, skills and knowledge necessary to successfully realize those careers. Each student receives one on one intensive case management and career coaching from nConnect staff, preparing them for the internship and supporting them during their work with the local business partner. This kind of individual coaching and worksite experience is particularly vital for students.

Almost 250 students from 18 different high schools in Clark and Cowlitz counties have completed internships with more than 50 local participating employers since 2010.

For more information please contact Manlio Castillo, STEM Coach: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or 360.690.6654 or download an application!

Students will need to submit a resume.  Please use this template.

nConnect would like to recognize and thank the following companies for having worked with our interns: