Month: June 2021

Ann Arbor SPARK and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) are launching Michigan STEM Forward, a statewide program that matches students attending Michigan colleges and universities with internship opportunities at the state’s leading innovative companies. Companies do not have to be in a specific industry, but all internships must be STEM-focused. Michigan STEM Forward provides students meaningful career experience and promotes job retention in the state, while providing financial support to companies who hire these interns.

Based on Ann Arbor SPARK’s successful internship match program, the state tapped the regional economic development organization to steer the new statewide initiative, working with regional SmartZone service organizations to connect companies with interested students.

“Ann Arbor SPARK is thrilled to leverage our decade of experience running our own Ann Arbor-based internship program and take the opportunity to administer the Michigan STEM Forward program on behalf of the state. We have a solid track record of delivering results that help both businesses and job seekers: Of the students that participated in our internship program over the last five years, 84 percent of them accepted jobs in Michigan upon graduation,” said Bill Mayer, Ann Arbor SPARK’s vice president of entrepreneurial services. “It’s vital that we not only attract talent to Michigan, but retain aspiring jobseekers post-graduation as a strategy to extend the pipeline of workers available to growing companies.”

The program will place 425-450 STEM students currently attending Michigan colleges annually into STEM-focused internships throughout Michigan.

Assignment will include:

·         Processing of turnover documentation and engineering drawing reviews

·         Validation of metadata for completeness and accuracy

·         Working with Document Management for digital file storage

Work location – virtual, but will have occasional site access ability

Students can apply through this link: Student Co-Op – Southeast Michigan (dteenergy.com)

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate in the program.  Those who are graduating from college within the term they are applying are not considered students and therefore are not eligible for the program (i.e. Individual graduating from college in upcoming May and applying in March, not considered eligible).

– Graduating high school seniors who will be attending college in the Fall are eligible to participate, if they meet age requirements.

–  Students must be at least 18 years of age by the time they start working to be eligible for program.

– Students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA.

–  College students will be asked to provide an official transcript as proof of eligibility prior to receiving an offer letter of employment.  High School Seniors will be asked to provide a college acceptance letter prior to receiving an offer letter of employment.