Students from Saint Joseph’s College of Marian University - Indianapolis participated in their first networking event with local employer partners this weekend in preparation to begin their paid internships in January 2020 through the earn and learn program.
The Meet and Mingle at Saint Joe Indy brought together students from the inaugural class and our local employer partners to network and provide the students an opportunity to practice the elevator speeches they learned this semester in their public speaking class. Over a dozen employer partners from Indianapolis-based companies, such as Allison Transmission, Buckingham Companies, and Citizens Energy attended and met the students who will intern at their companies. Employer partners provided insight about working at their companies, shared their experiences in becoming a professional, and offered tips about navigating college and the workforce.
“We are blessed with dedicated employer partners and talented students who both made our first Meet and Mingle networking event a success,” Alice Susemichel, director of workforce development at Saint Joe Indy, said. “Our earn and learn program creates a work-integrated learning experience with a two-day per week class schedule allowing our students to participate 15-24 hours per week in a hands-on, paid, and mentored internship. Our employer partners are committed to providing input regarding skills and competencies needed in the workplace which will be reflected in our curriculum.”
Through the earn and learn program, students no longer have to choose between work and college after graduating high school. While earning their two-year associate degree, the first two semesters students are training to participate in the earn and learn program through relevant classwork and special engagement events. In their third semester, students are matched with employer partners in the fields and careers they are interested in pursuing so they can get real-world training from real-world professionals while earning their degree.
View photos from the Meet and Mingle.
