SciTech Internship Program Celebrates 10 Years of STEM

MINNEAPOLIS – Feb. 1, 2022 – PRLog — Minneapolis, Minnesota — The SciTech Internship Program is commemorating its 10-year anniversary with a month-long celebration highlighting the people and companies who have benefited from SciTech internships. Since its start in 2012, SciTech has helped over 2,250 interns connect with 555 companies in 142 cities state-wide.

“It’s so exciting for us to celebrate 10 years of making such a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” said Becky Siekmeier, SciTech’s Program Director. “For STEM students, getting real hands-on experience right here in Minnesota before graduating is key to launching a successful career. It’s also been a joy to help Minnesota’s small mighty businesses find the talent they need to grow. SciTech continues to be a win-win for students, companies and the State of Minnesota.”

Conceptualized by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and housed at the Minnesota Technology Association (MnTech), SciTech was designed to build and retain Minnesota’s STEM workforce. The program doubles as both a student and an employer resource. Minnesota students pursuing a college STEM degree can use SciTech as an exclusive online job board where they can find paid internships with small companies and gain hands-on industry experience. In turn, small business owners can tap into the program to find the talent they need and get help covering the cost. With SciTech reimbursing its employers for half of what they pay their interns (up to $2,500 per student), these small companies can then afford to offer more internships or higher wages, depending on their needs.

“SciTech plays a big part in our talent initiatives here at MnTech,” said Jeff Tollefson, the President and CEO of the Minnesota Technology Association. “The future of our state’s STEM economy depends on programs like this. And thanks to SciTech, so many young STEM professionals have discovered their passion and calling with small companies here in Minnesota. That’s very special, and we look forward to seeing the greater impact of this program in the years to come.”

To celebrate a decade of internships, SciTech is running a blog and social media campaign, sharing interviews, videos and stories from program partners and student alumni. The articles will be posted on their website once a week with short video segments shared daily through their social media feeds (@SciTechMN).

Students and businesses who are interested in enrolling in the SciTech Internship Program can review the eligibility requirements and apply online at http://scitechmn.org/.