Year Up Voted 2018 Internship of the Year
By Joyce Huber
Year Up is an organization whose mission is to provide urban young adults with the skills, experience, and support they need to empower them to reach their potential through higher education and professionalism. The organization created a unique Year Up internship program that so empowers minority and other urban students that the internship has been voted 2018 internship of the year by FindInternships.com.
Year Up is much more than an internship. It is a one-year, intensive training program that provides low-income young adults, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skills development, coursework eligible for college credit, corporate internships, and wraparound support.
The non-profit was founded by Gerald Chertavian in 2000 and has locations in CA, AZ, MA, PA, NY, IL, FL, WA, VA, DC, DE, TX and MD. The programs are designed to help students acquire the skills they need for the job they want. Programs combine hands-on skills development, courses eligible for college credit, and corporate internships to prepare students for success in professional careers and higher education.
Other cool facts about Year Up
• You can earn a stipend throughout the program; both while you train and during your internship, while you are completing courses eligible for college credit.
• Participants receive help from program managers, coaches, and student services teams, to help them reach their maximum potential.
• Participants also are assigned a mentor, an experienced professional who will provide one-on-one attention and guidance throughout the Year Up experience.
Why Year Up was Voted 2018 Internship of the Year
Year Up offers a unique combo program that offers much more than an internship. Students enrolled in the Year Up program receive many benefits, including coursework for which they receive college credit, a paid internship, and one-on-one training and development to help prepare them to excel in college as well as in their careers.
The focus of Year Up is to provide more opportunities for urban young adults, giving minorities in particular increased opportunities to succeed in college and become successful in their careers.
What previous students have to say about Year Up
“Had I not participated in Year Up, I’d still be struggling to find a fulfilling career.” (Attended Year Up Chicago; currently a Business Analyst)
“I’m a strong and independent mother of two who is pursuing her dreams. I knew I could persevere and Year Up was the once in a lifetime opportunity to make it happen.” (Attended Year Up New York; currently a Project Analyst)
“Year Up offered me a future and the path to achieve it.” (Attended Year Up CA; currently an Application Support Lead)
Some students expressed how difficult it was to go to college and work at the same time to support themselves. Others felt lost, wanting to reach their dreams but not knowing how to get there. Year Up gave them an opportunity to get back on track with a year-long program that combines college work with an internship and career mentoring. It changed their lives. These students are now on track with careers they love and attribute the program to helping them get there.
Who Can Apply?
Any student who meets the following qualifications may apply to Year Up:
• Within 18-24 year old
• A high school graduate or GED recipient
• Of low to moderate income
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have an employment authorization card
• Have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree
• Highly motivated to learn new technical and professional skills
Admission Process
• To apply to Year Up, eligible students must complete and return an online interest form. This is not an application, but rather a first step in the admissions process that lets Year Up know you’re interested.
• Students must then attend an information session; dates and times are listed on the web site.
• After attending an information session, students may complete an application for admission. This can be done online.
• Students are then invited in for interviews.
Year Up is much more than an internship. It is a one-year, intensive training program that provides low-income young adults, ages 18-24, with a combination of hands-on skills development, coursework eligible for college credit, corporate internships, and wraparound support.
The non-profit was founded by Gerald Chertavian in 2000 and has locations in CA, AZ, MA, PA, NY, IL, FL, WA, VA, DC, DE, TX and MD. The programs are designed to help students acquire the skills they need for the job they want. Programs combine hands-on skills development, courses eligible for college credit, and corporate internships to prepare students for success in professional careers and higher education.
Other cool facts about Year Up
• You can earn a stipend throughout the program; both while you train and during your internship, while you are completing courses eligible for college credit.
• Participants receive help from program managers, coaches, and student services teams, to help them reach their maximum potential.
• Participants also are assigned a mentor, an experienced professional who will provide one-on-one attention and guidance throughout the Year Up experience.
Why Year Up was Voted 2018 Internship of the Year
Year Up offers a unique combo program that offers much more than an internship. Students enrolled in the Year Up program receive many benefits, including coursework for which they receive college credit, a paid internship, and one-on-one training and development to help prepare them to excel in college as well as in their careers.
The focus of Year Up is to provide more opportunities for urban young adults, giving minorities in particular increased opportunities to succeed in college and become successful in their careers.
What previous students have to say about Year Up
“Had I not participated in Year Up, I’d still be struggling to find a fulfilling career.” (Attended Year Up Chicago; currently a Business Analyst)
“I’m a strong and independent mother of two who is pursuing her dreams. I knew I could persevere and Year Up was the once in a lifetime opportunity to make it happen.” (Attended Year Up New York; currently a Project Analyst)
“Year Up offered me a future and the path to achieve it.” (Attended Year Up CA; currently an Application Support Lead)
Some students expressed how difficult it was to go to college and work at the same time to support themselves. Others felt lost, wanting to reach their dreams but not knowing how to get there. Year Up gave them an opportunity to get back on track with a year-long program that combines college work with an internship and career mentoring. It changed their lives. These students are now on track with careers they love and attribute the program to helping them get there.
Who Can Apply?
Any student who meets the following qualifications may apply to Year Up:
• Within 18-24 year old
• A high school graduate or GED recipient
• Of low to moderate income
• A U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or have an employment authorization card
• Have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree
• Highly motivated to learn new technical and professional skills
Admission Process
• To apply to Year Up, eligible students must complete and return an online interest form. This is not an application, but rather a first step in the admissions process that lets Year Up know you’re interested.
• Students must then attend an information session; dates and times are listed on the web site.
• After attending an information session, students may complete an application for admission. This can be done online.
• Students are then invited in for interviews.
