Program at Columbiana County Career and Technical Center will help students find IT internships

A grant from the state of Ohio will help Columbiana County Career and Technical Center students in the AP Computer Science Program secure paid internships. The Tech Intern Pilot Program grant will reimburse employers part of the wages paid to the student workers. CCCTC is the twelfth place in Ohio to be trying out this program. CCCTC is still looking for employers who would like to participate.

The Tech Intern Pilot Program, administered by the state of Ohio, aims to connect high school students enrolled in technology courses with local employers for internships. CCCTC is one of two pilot program sites in the northeastern region of Ohio. Employers can submit for reimbursement of up to $1,250 for wages paid to students who work at least 150 hours in an internship and are paid at least $12/hour. An additional $100 is available to employers if the intern earns an industry-recognized credential during the internship.

One CCCTC student, Gavin Whitman, shared his hopes for the program with local news station WKBN. Whitman said, "I hope to gather skills that I haven't learned here yet or at least build upon skills and then put them forward to a job."

Jeremy Corbisello, assistant superintendent at CCCTC, also spoke with WKBN about the Tech Intern Pilot Program. "The governor's office is looking to create these opportunities by getting high school students employed in internships and paying some of the wages for businesses as an incentive to hire the students and hopefully it will turn into long-term employment," Corbisello explained.

According to the article published by WKBN, many businesses have already contacted CCCTC about participating in the program, but the school is still looking for additional local employers to provide internship opportunities.