We know that not every student can afford to take an unpaid internship, which influenced our decision to establish the Internship Plus Program. This program awards up to $2,500 in financial assistance to students who have an unpaid internship opportunity and demonstrate financial need. Through this program, many students, like the ones below, have been able to gain important experience in their field of interest. Hear about it from them:
Kayla Interned at Take Back the Halls
“My internship in the Take Back the Halls program has altered the way I view education, social justice work, and importantly, the direction of my career. Take Back the Halls (TBTH) is a teen dating violence prevention program that utilizes the popular education model to empower students in under-resourced areas of Chicago to become advocates for their communities. Once a week, we meet with students to talk about teen dating violence, its signs, its causes (systemic and interpersonal), and ways in which we can work to prevent it… It has changed my perspective on my journey in education and on how I want to work as an educator in the future, whether that is in educating students in the social justice movement or working in a university setting. Without the Internship Plus scholarship it would have been difficult to keep up with work, school, and my internship, as I would have had to work more hours to pay for my tuition.”
Rio Interned with 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney
“During my time at the 44th Ward, I gained a better understanding of public service and how important a role government can play in our communities. The Internship Plus award allowed me to not worry about the financial troubles that could arise by doing an unpaid internship. Not having to stress about my bank account empowered me to fully apply myself at the office. I believe this internship provided me with an opportunity to put DePaul’s mission into action through the many hours I spent assisting my fellow 44th Ward neighbors access government services and improve their day to day lives. This internship was truly centered around community service and this experience helped me get closer to achieving my goals because I learned more about Chicago’s various government agencies. I hope to work in the public service sector in the future, and this internship was a great introductory experience to this field.”
Ashley Interned at Above & Beyond Family Recover Center
“Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center is a nonprofit substance abuse recovery facility. I was able to work with individuals who battled with substance use and learn about its impacts as well as witness tremendous growth and resilience. Without the Internship Plus award, I would not have been able to do this internship due to being a first generation college student who is full-time, as well as works part-time and helps take care of my family. By having this extra assistance I was able to experience something that I will never forget and that has validated what I would like to do with my degree. Working on the West side of Chicago in the middle of the food desert motivated me to want to make a change within our system… DePaul’s mission strives towards providing service and growing as a community. My time at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center was exactly that.”
Michelle Interned at Allied Global Marketing
“My internship at Allied Global Marketing opened my eyes to a different side of marketing and a new field that I hadn’t experienced yet. Being able to apply my marketing skills and learn how to use them for press purposes was both challenging and intriguing. I had always had experience with the digital side of marketing, especially social media. But this internship allowed me to see another perspective to the field. I was also very pleased to be working in the entertainment industry, which is where I would like to specialize my career in. I am very thankful that this internship exposed me to it and showed me what my ideal future career looks like. I am also grateful for the Internship Plus program for giving me aid this quarter. Getting experience in the field you wish to pursue in the future is essential, but it is very though when it is unpaid and you still need to be able to afford to live in a city as expensive as Chicago. Thanks to the scholarship I was able to participate in an unpaid internship that cemented my future career interest in participating in the administration of the arts, more specifically the press and marketing side of it.”
Applications for the summer Internship Plus program are now open. Apply on the Scholarship Connect by May 10th, 2020!