11th grade Internship Program

Organization: Denver School of Science and Technology

Grant Round: Jumpstart

Program’s Objectives: DSST strives to be an innovative model that will help redefine the American high school experience. One of our main objectives is to create a pipeline of Colorado students who will become Colorado’s workforce in the very near future. One of the unique ways in which DSST is doing thus is through our Internship Program. All 11th graders at DSST are required to successfully complete a 12-week internship that connects students with a real-world work experience in higher-wage/higher-skill industries, and connects industry partners with potential highly-educated employees. The Internship Program provides an opportunity to experience a real-life professional environment coupled with the requirements of a professional job. It exposes students to career options and opportunities that will help guide them in their college selections and majors at an early stage.

Individuals Served: We have served 143 students during the WIRED grant by placing students in real-world work situations and creating an early connection between education and employment. Relationships between the internships and the industry partners will continue beyond this project and potentially lead to future employment after college.

Success Story: John Spainhower and Danny Ladd interned at IP5280, a communications company, and worked on cutting edge voice over IP installs that would normally be handled by industry experts with years of experience.

Collaborators: CU-Boulder Engineering, CU-Health Sciences, Jared Polis Foundation, Denver Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Denver Zoo, Mortenson Construction, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Integrated Tech, Planned Parenthood, Forest City Stapleton, Assets for Colorado Youth, Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, Smith Barney, Klipp Architects, ESA Hazardous Demolition, Urban Peak, Denver Park and Planning, Comcast, CU-Denver Biology Dept., Denver Mayor’s Office, Safe City, Junior Achievement, Ashley Elementary, SysTest Labs, Rose Hospital Midwifery, Presbyterian St. Luke’s, Washington group Intl., Denver Dept. of Environmental Health, Denver Dept. of Environmental Health, ViaWest Inc., UCHSC Dept. of Cell and Developmental Biology, Adkins Architecture, Children’s Hospital, Farrell B. Howell School, Comcast, Concerts for Kids, HDR Engineering, Art House Designs, Swallow Hill.