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Thanks to a new $144,000 grant, this year Carthage students can get paid for what otherwise would be unpaid internships.

The Career Ready Internship Initiative grant from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation allows the College to pay participating students $10 per hour to work at area nonprofit organizations and businesses. The positions are with community partners that are cultivated by Carolynn Friesch, Carthage’s newly hired director of internships.

FALL 2013 INTERNSHIPS
Employer Position
Racine Public Library Library Assistant
Racine Zoo Marketing and Special Events
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network Program Intern
Aurora Medical Center - Kenosha Administrative Intern
Racine Urban Garden Network Garden Development and Grounds Intern
Racine Urban Garden Network Public Relations/ Marketing Intern
Racine Urban Garden Network Grants/Fundraising Intern
Racine Urban Garden Network Education/Events Intern
Hospice Alliance IT/Development Intern
Master Singers of Milwaukee Program/Marketing Intern
Life’s Transitions, Inc. Human Services Intern
Life’s Transitions, Inc. Marketing/Sales Intern
United Way of Kenosha County Accounting Intern
United Way of Kenosha County

Marketing/PR/ Community Outreach

United Way of Kenosha County Financial Stability Initiative Assistant
United Way of Kenosha County Resource Development/ Fundraising

She noted that the program provides a dual benefit. Students earn a paycheck while gaining necessary experience that can open the door to full-time work with the same employer or elsewhere. Most of the internship opportunities are with nonprofits, which benefit greatly as well.

“The student is giving back to the community by offering services to organizations that need help and might not be able to pay for it,” said Jean Frederick, senior director of career services at Carthage.

The interns are allowed to work up to 12 hours per week during the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters. That limit is extended during January Term (30 hours) and in summer 2014 (35 hours).

The Great Lakes grant will fund a total of 49 internship opportunities over the course of the year. To be eligible, students must have junior or senior standing, a major and career goals related to the position, and an unmet financial need as shown on the 2013-14 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Ms. Friesch was hired as the College’s director of internships in July as part of a broader shift in the Career Services office that is designed to provide a full range of assistance to students and alumni. She previously spent four years as director of career services at Kaplan Higher Education in Milwaukee and has a total of 10 years of experience in employer relationship development.

Carthage President Gregory S. Woodward said the hire demonstrates the College’s commitment to career preparation within a liberal arts context.

“I would like to be able to offer an internship opportunity to any student at Carthage who desires one, and our new full-time position dedicated to internships will bring us closer to this goal,” he said. “Carolynn’s excellent experience in career services and internships is the first step in creating a comprehensive experiential learning component for our outstanding students.”

To apply for one of the internships under the Career Ready Internship Initiative, contact Ms. Friesch at cfriesch@carthage.edu or 262-551-5959, or visit the Career Services office on the fourth floor of Lentz Hall.