Summer on the Cuyahoga Adapts, Provides 26 Students with Successful Summer Internship Experiences in

CLEVELAND - Sept. 15, 2020 - PRLog -- During a summer when so many plans were canceled or postponed, the Summer on the Cuyahoga college internship program welcomed 26 talented students to Cleveland for paid summer internships, connections with local college alumni, and an immersive introduction to the promise and possibilities of launching their careers in Northeast Ohio.

Over the past 18 years, SOTC has brought more than 1,000 college students to Cleveland (chosen from among nearly 12,000 applicants) for paid opportunities with some of the region's top employers, as well as group housing, and exclusive networking opportunities with civic, business, and cultural leaders.

This year, SOTC offered approximately 40 events and activities throughout the summer, both virtual events and socially distanced, in-person programs with virtual components. One of the highlights this summer was a weeklong Collegiate Career & Community Leader Virtual Mixer that featured over 15 hours of panel discussions, interactive workshops, and presentations, as well as one-on-one virtual resume reviews and small group digital networking sessions.

Cleveland's affordability and the program's nearly-free housing has enabled Summer on the Cuyahoga to attract one of the most geographically, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse internship cohorts in the region. Participating schools include Case Western Reserve University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Denison University, Oberlin College, Ohio Wesleyan University, Smith College, and University of Chicago. The colleges contribute toward their housing, activities, and transportation costs, and provide career support and resources.

More than 160 Summer on the Cuyahoga interns have returned to Cleveland after graduation, for jobs, to continue connections, and sometimes for graduate school.

"I met so many incredible people this summer who are all extremely passionate about what they do. Hearing their stories and visions for a more just world solidified my own desire to enter the nonprofit world, and I learned so much from all of them. … I am very grateful that I was able to engage so much with topics of racism, white supremacy, and racial justice in my time with the Diversity Center [of Northeast Ohio] this summer. It truly felt like the most important work I could be doing in the current moment."

"Being a part of SOTC this summer was a unique experience due to the pandemic, but I really thought that the program did a fantastic job of adapting to the new restrictions that everybody was facing."

One employer said: "Once again our SOTC intern surpassed our expectations. She was faced with the challenge of not just interning remotely but also navigating an organization in the grips of very unpredictable finances. Yet somehow she managed to establish trust quickly and build remarkably strong interpersonal relationships with several members of the staff."

Visit https://summeronthecuyahoga.com/ EDITORS: Photos available.