Unite for Success - Our mission at the St. Cloud Area Chamber is to create, enhance and support a healthy business community for our members. One essential piece of this is building and maintaining a strong workforce. The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
supports workforce development initiatives of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. In an effort to positively impact the lives of our area youth, the Foundation coordinates youth and employee development opportunities, and educates current and future workers about area industries, businesses and organizations. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, sponsored scholarships, internships and stipends, and workforce readiness initiatives. Learn more or donate to the Chamber Foundation.
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Each spring, Chamber staff begin their search for member businesses who are interested in hosting a high school intern for an 80 hour paid internship experience. While there is no direct cost to participating businesses and organizations, contributions are accepted to support the internship stipend fund. 100 percent of contributions made are given to the incoming summer interns, or kept for the following summer internship stipends.
To learn more about hosting and intern or helping a student obtain an internship, contact Kelti Lorence.
Businesses interested in awarding scholarships receive a Personalized Scholarship Outline. Using this form, the business can specify the school(s) where the scholarship should be awarded and the scholarship qualifications. Qualifications can be tailored by the donor company and might include merit, grade point average, community involvement, leadership, need or any other criteria.
Chamber Foundation:
To learn more about contributing to the "Unite for Success" Scholarship and internship stipends fund, visit the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation page. All contributions are collected through the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and qualify as a charitable donation.
Communications & Workforce Development Coordinator Unite for Success Internship and Scholarship Coordinator klorence@StCloudAreaChamber.com (320) 656-3830
The 2019 Internship Program is closed to applications. The 2020 program will be available for application in April 2020.
In collaboration with St. Cloud State University and the St. Cloud Technical and Community College, the Chamber collects details on job and internship openings available to current college students each semester. To learn what local job and intership opportunities are currently available for college students, contact your college advisor, or visit your college job bank.
To learn what scholarship opportunities are currently available for students, contact your high school guidance counselor.
Looking for a way to simultaneously make money, gain work experience, and develop your business network connections? Consider applying for the Unite for Success Summer Internship Program! Students complete an 80 hour internship at a local Chamber member business between June - August, at their speed. Upon completion of the internship, the Chamber provides a $550 stipend, an official sealed certificate of completion, and work experience to your resume.
Each spring Chamber staff contact local Chamber member businesses to host a summer intern. Because of this format, the businesses we partner with change yearly. If you are currently a local high school student and are interested in interning at a specific business, please contact internship coordinator Kelti Lorence by March 15. *Note: Don't have access to a car? No problem! The Chamber works in collaboration with Metro Bus to provide student transportation to and from their internship. Training on how to safely use the Metro Bus transit system is available. To see what Chamber member businesses and organizations we are partnering with each summer, visit this page in April. Internship applications are due the first week of May.
1. Visit this website page in April to see the list of business mentors for the upcoming summer (you must choose three of the businesses from this list to complete your internship hours with.) 2. Fill out the online application on this website page. At least one reference letter is required for your application to be considered. 3. Keep an eye on your email. You will receive an email requesting to set up an interview at the Chamber office. You MUST complete an interview to be placed as an intern. 4. You will receive either a confirmation or denial email after interviews are complete. 5. Accepted? Great! Attend the Initial Internship Meeting at the Chamber. Here you will meet your mentor business, receive valuable information, create your internship goals and learn what is expected from you during your internship experience. 6. Complete 80 hours at your business between the beginning of June 1 - August 15. Fill out a daily journal entry each day you work, and turn this in to Kelti after your hours are complete. 7. Fill out the online internship evaluation. 8. Attend the internship wrap-up meeting at the Chamber office. At this meeting you will be able to pick up your $550 check, and update your work experience on your resume!
Daily Journal Template 2019 Internship Info Brochure 2019 Timeline Frequently Asked Questions
View all photos from past internships
"My internship has helped me be more confident in trying new things, because then you will found out what you are interested in, and what you don't want to keep pursuing." - Khadra, 2018 intern "I learned I need to work on speaking slower and more clearly, because I felt like the students and my co-workers didn't always understand what I was trying to say." - Yasmin, 2018 intern
"I will put more thought into asking myself WHY I want to apply to the job. I will be able to think through how it will benefit me, and what requirements the job must have so I will enjoy and succeed at it." - Khadra, 2018 intern
"I learned that I actually really love working with kids!" - Yasmin, 2018 intern "I learned that I tend to do things very fast and may need to slow down and be more detailed in my work. However, i also learned that I am very good at remembering details and giving input during staff meetings." - Aftina, 2018 intern
Internship coordinator Kelti Lorence sat down with one of the 2018 summer interns, who completed her 80-hour internship at the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA. Hear how her experience helped her grow professionaly, and will help direct her future career path.