Popular high school internship program continues to expand in Appalachia

As Appalachian Ohio builds on recent economic development successes, a nonprofit group formed in 2012 to bridge the gap between education and employment stands ready to provide further help in preparing the region’s workforce.

Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) has already been successful with its efforts to provide real-world learning experiences such as internships, job shadowing, career mentoring and hands-on activities while supporting local employers and strengthening community partnerships.

In this year alone, for example, the Marietta-based 501(c)(3) leveraged state and local resources to place 171 students from 64 school districts in over 28 counties through just one of its various programs – the High School Tech Internship (HSTI). As part of the program, 54 businesses hosted the students, which was a 25% increase from the year before.

BB2C is also reaching into West Virginia, where some two-dozen students from Wood County were teamed with area businesses.

More than 200 internship placements in the region in the last year

Including other programs that it coorindates, BBC2 saw a total of 216 regional internship placements from July 2025 - June 2026.

And now the nonprofit, which also offers a Behavioral Health Internship among its many initiatives, wants to do more across the 32 Appalachian counties in the state and beyond.

Kaitlin Streator, the communications and engagement facilitator for BB2C, said the group has been contacting schools and businesses from Ashtabula to Clermont counties to raise awareness of HSTI and its other programs.

“We’re wanting to reach out to more high school tech interns and businesses that are out in different counties,” she said.

The expansion aims to fit with BB2C’s original mission conceived by Executive Director Tasha Werry in conjunction with Associate Executive Director Pamela Lankford.

“She saw the need to have programs and resources outside of the classroom that connected students with career exploration opportunities,” Streator said of Werry, a former teacher at Marietta City Schools.

BB2C’s funding is generated in part through local partnerships and foundations, while programs such as HSTI are backed by the Ohio Department of Development, which reimburses businesses for 75% of the cost of hosting interns up to $5,000 per student.

Partnering with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

BB2C also got an early boost from the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service at Ohio University starting in 2017, which along with partnering to secure space for the group’s Epicenter in Marietta and other financial assistance included helping the nonprofit secure a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2020.

Students in the HSTI program are required to work at least 120 hours over the period from January through September. Some students do unpaid or stipend-based exploratory internships that range from 30-35 hours, and others do internships for high school class credits.

Internship Coordinator Lara Coghlan said it’s rewarding to be part of a program with so many options to help students get a head start on career opportunities.

“We’ve designed it to be very flexible so that it’s applicable to any student. It’s finding that perfect match between a business and a student and the student’s schedule,” she said.

HSTI in particular is focused on juniors and seniors who are interested in technology including electrical work to graphic design. Those include students from traditional high schools, career-technical schools and even home-schoolers.

“The students come from all over the place,” Coghlan said. The program touches students from a range of educational stages, including some who are working towards associate’s degrees while still in high school.

“That’s what makes this job so enjoyable – seeing what the student is already doing in their life to get to that career path,” she said.

Students gain real world experience working in the community

Feedback from students and businesses has been very positive as evidenced by a series of blog posts on the BB2C’s website.

In a report written by intern Anna Cosner, Williamstown High School Class of ’26, two host businesses relayed their positive experiences with the HSTI program.

“Our staff really enjoys getting to share their knowledge and expertise with emerging healthcare professionals and appreciate the opportunity to help students solidify their career choices by offering hands-on learning experiences,” said Amanda Knauff, the human resources director at Highland District Hospital, a host site for several years.

AMG Vanadium, an oil refinery plant, reported being pleasantly surprised by their experience hosting HSTI students.

“They were mature beyond their years,” said a Vanadium engineer who added of the experience gained by working at the plant: “It provides a broad exposure to the working industry and the range of equipment, processes, and people they may encounter in their careers.”

Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport recently hosted high school senior Blake Brown, whose valuable experience included participating in the airport’s annual Fire Day training to prepare for emergencies such as engine fires or jet fuel spills.

Alexis White, a senior at Fort Frye High School in Beverly, recounted her time as an intern for WMOA Radio in Marietta.

‘It’s been a wonderful opportunity,” she said, highlighting her work on audio, interviewing people, and networking. Those sharpened communications skills, she added, “set me up for a part-time position after that internship ended.”

Internships help students gain experience, learn about career paths and build confidence

Streater said she’s had a front row seat to such successful partnerships through her interviews with students and businesses involved in BB2C’s various programs.

“The feedback has been great. This morning I interviewed a student who has been an HSTI intern,” she said. The student, a parishioner at St. Mary of the Assumption church, is doing media and photography work for the church.

“She said it was the perfect experience for her because it blended a passion for her with her plans to study theology. This technology internship was a great fit.”

In another example, Streater cited feedback from a home-schooled student who worked with the Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition.

“It was amazing to see how much his confidence has grown – not just in his engineering skills but his interpersonal skills as well,” she said.

Director Werry said, “The experiences of the high school interns become their own to use for decision making about their future. This is exactly what we wanted to see happen for young people when we launched the concept of BB2C so long ago.”

“There are a lot of ways for young people to get experience and we are open to developing them all - when we have the capacity to do so, of course,” she added. “Anyone reading this article can get involved in this work as a partner. All jobs are a potential future placement for students.”

More information on BB2Cs work is available on the nonprofit’s latest annual report and by contacting staff email links though the group’s website.