UW-River Falls to Offer More Students Paid Internships with Great Lakes Grant

February 26, 2014-- The University of Wisconsin-River Falls recently received a Career Ready Internship Initiative grant in the amount of $28,200 from Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. UW-River Falls will use the grant to create new paid internships and turn previously unpaid internships into paid internships, for juniors and seniors who don't receive enough financial aid to cover college costs. 

"The Great Lakes Grant is an exciting program for it opens up internship opportunities for our students within a wider variety of organizations including community-based, nonprofits and micro-enterprises," said David Bonko, assistant professor of marketing communications at UW-River Falls. "Though they possess the need, these smaller organizations many times do not have the resources needed to hire an intern." 

UW-River Falls is one of 19 Wisconsin colleges and universities to receive some of the more than $2.5 million in Career Ready Internship Initiative grant funds awarded by Great Lakes. Schools will collaborate with businesses and nonprofit organizations across the state to create the new paid internships. 

"Through the Great Lakes Career Ready Internship Initiative grant, we're able to create a win-win situation that benefits both our students as well as their employer," said Bonko. 

For more information, contact Bonko at 715-425-3899 or email david.bonko@uwrf.edu.