For the seventh year, Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere has kicked off the Plano Mayor’s Summer Internship Program. This program exists to invest in Plano’s youth and build Plano’s future workforce, providing teens with part-time and full-time paid summer positions at companies and nonprofits in and around Plano. Mayor Harry hopes to provide at least 120 eight-week paid summer internships to qualifying sophomores and juniors living in Plano.
In its seven years, the program has grown exponentially. What started out as 37 interns in 2014 turned into 119 interns in 2019. A large number of these interns have gone on to be first-generation college students, an important feat for both their families and the city of Plano.
Though typically reserved for college students and even graduate students, internships offer up real-life experiences and hands-on learning, an experience important for any young person. The opportunity to see what it’s like to work for a nonprofit or business day-in, day-out at the age of 16 or 17 could help these teenagers figure out what they see themselves doing when they’re done with school.
To qualify, students should have a 3.0 GPA minimum, be 16 years of age by June 8 and apply by March 6. Businesses interesting in hosting an intern should sign up by April 1 at planomayorsinterns.org. Students who have applied will attend Internship Prep training on March 28, and will be interviewed at the Job Fair on April 24. Job offers will go out in May.
Interns work 20 to 40 hours a week at a minimum of $10 per hour, and companies pay a $500 program fee for each intern to cover cost of training, enrichment activities, the Job Fair and the luncheon ticket. Businesses may underwrite an intern at a nonprofit or government agency.
The presenting sponsor for the seventh year is Capital One. The Job Fair sponsor is JPMorgan Chase, underwriting 20 interns in the technology, healthcare and nonprofit sectors. Other sponsors include The Boeing Company, NTT Data, AT&T, Bank of America, City of Plano, Kroger, Liberty Mutual, Oncor, Plano ISD and Granite Properties.
Interest students and businesses may apply online at the website below.
Plano Mayor's Summer Internship Program >
