Castleton University has been named the recipient of a Vermont Internship Program Grant, funded by the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL). This is the second year that Castleton has been awarded the grant funding, with $40,000 to be used to expand the Castleton Vermont Internship Program.
The Castleton Vermont Internship Program was established in 2021 and provides need-based stipends to low-income and first-generation Castleton students completing internships. Students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to complete an unpaid internship due to financial barriers can gain hands-on experience and build relationships with local employers, which will serve them long after graduation.
In the program’s inaugural year, Castleton awarded $25,000 in funding to 15 students in 10 academic programs.
The Castleton Vermont Internship Program partners with the Pathway to Graduation project and the Office of Career Services to provide structured support for student interns, including help completing applications, internship site identification and matching, resume development, and more. It also works directly with regional employers to support candidate matching, access to Castleton's job board platform, and direct communication regarding paid employment opportunities for prior interns.
Vermont Internship Program Grants provide support for organizations that support or connect Vermont employers with student-interns from regional technical centers, colleges, and universities. This year, the Vermont Department of Labor received a historic number of applications, awarding $2.4 million in funding to 68 organizations. In addition to Castleton, Community College of Vermont – a member of the Vermont State Colleges System – also received grant funding.