WESTFIELD – Tomorrow, Westfield State University will be awarded New England’s Knowledge Corridor’s College InternHero Award in recognition of its active support of student experiential learning. Created in 2000, New England’s Knowledge Corridor is an interstate partnership of 26 regional economic development, planning, business, tourism, and educational institutions that work together to advance the region’s economic progress.
“Westfield State University is honored to receive the College InternHero award. As soon as students begin their first year on campus, our Career Center is actively working to connect them with a diverse array of real-world work experiences to help them prepare for the workforce post-graduation,” said Junior Delgado, director of the Career Center.
Each year, more than 750 Westfield State students participate in internships. Students have the option of interning for one of the more than 300 businesses, schools, and organizations off campus, or on campus for various offices and academic departments. The university has a partnership with The Washington Center that allows students to intern in Washington D.C. at a variety of locations including the U.S. Marshal Service, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, the university offers the Disney College Program internship in which students live in Orlando, FL. for a semester while working in Walt Disney World and taking college courses.
As part of the State University Internship Incentive (SUII) Program, a small group of students, mainly those in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, are awarded financial support for their internships, making the option of an internship accessible to a wider range of students.
In addition to internship placement assistance, Westfield State’s Career Center is a resource for students and alumni providing resume building, mock-interviews, and grad school preparation.
Delgado will accept the award at the annual New England’s Knowledge Corridor “State of the Region” conference on Friday, June 19 from 7:30- 11:15 a.m. at the Hartford/Windsor Marriott in Windsor, Conn.
For more information on the College InternHero Award or New England’s Knowledge Corridor, visit www.knowledgecorridor.org.
