New UNI grant to provide summer job opportunities to at-risk high school students

New UNI grant to provide summer job opportunities to at-risk high school students

A new grant awarded to the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Urban Education (UNI-CUE) will provide 15 summer internship opportunities to high school students.

The $87,000 Future Ready Iowa grant from Iowa Workforce Development will provide summer employment for youths who are at risk of not graduating, from low-income households or from communities under-represented in the Iowa workforce. The program will add to the thousands of students UNI-CUE serves each year while carrying out its public commitment to lifelong learning and helping at-risk students continue their education goals. Companies participating in the program include UnityPoint Health, MasterBrand Cabinets, Experience Waterloo, Viking Pump and VGM & Associates.

“Our goal through this program is to provide a hands-on experience for high school youth from all backgrounds to explore and prepare for high-demand careers, gain work experience and develop personal attributes necessary to succeed in the workplace,” said Megan Holbach, '08, assistant director of UNI-CUE. “By participating in these various internships, professionals will be preparing these students for post-secondary education and/or careers by developing the soft skills such as communication, punctuality and time management.”

The internships, which will run from June 7 through Aug. 20, will help students prepare for careers in high-demand fields. These same students can gain the work experience that helps them put their education into practice, develop their leadership skills and give them a competitive edge as they pursue a more permanent career. 

UNI-CUE has been carrying out its public mission to provide a positive environment for lifetime learning, where individuals may pursue and continue their educational goals and prepare for careers since 1969.