By Janice Phelan,
May 2, 2022
High school juniors in the Missouri Innovation Campus program recently learned their
internship placements after participating in workshops and mock interviews to prepare
them for their interviews with the business representatives.
High school juniors enrolled in the nationally recognized Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC) program were recently matched with Kansas City area industry-leading companies as part of
the program鈥檚 unique internship program. The MIC program is a partnership involving
the 欧美视频, Metropolitan Community College, the Lee鈥檚 Summit
R-7 School District and businesses.
Since 2012, the program has provided students with the opportunity to earn a bachelor鈥檚
degree in a high-demand field just two years after high-school graduation 鈥 with little
or no student debt. An important aspect of the successful program is its three-year
paid internship programs, beginning just after each student鈥檚 junior year in high
school. The interns are able to apply what they are learning in the classroom while
working as a valued team member at the companies.
MIC program participants begin this early bachelor鈥檚 degree program at the Lee鈥檚 Summit
R-7 School District鈥檚 Summit Technology Academy where they are enrolled in one of
these capstone courses 鈥 Software Development: Java/Python, DevSecOps (development,
security and operations)/Advanced Network and Cyber Concepts, Business Finance and
Fintech (financial technology) or Digital Electronics/CIM (computer integrated manufacturing).
This spring, 22 MIC program students were placed at the following MIC partner businesses:
UMB (six interns), Olsson (one), NIC (two), Lead Bank (one), SS&C Technologies (three),
Ultrax Aerospace (one), Fishtech (two), Black & Veatch (one), Burns & McDonnell (one),
Rx Savings Solutions (two) and MTW Solutions (two). The new interns are enrolled in
programs such as cybersecurity, design and drafting, software development, big data
or software engineering at the MIC.
Getting ready for their internship interviews and placement is another valuable component
of the students鈥 studies. Starting last fall, students began participating in MIC
program activities such as a resume writing workshop, interviewing skills workshop,
mock interviews and job readiness/soft skills workshop. In addition, families are
invited to attend a parent informational meeting about the internship program.
The students will begin their internships in June with each business creating a real-life
job experience for their interns over their three-year placement. Among the program鈥檚
graduates, 91 percent traditionally accept a position with the company where they
interned with close to 99 percent accepting a job with a MIC program partner.