ST.PAUL, MN (11/02/2015)(readMedia)-- University of Northwestern – St. Paul and its Academic Internship Program were awarded $412,238 through the 2015-2018 Great Lakes Career Ready Internship Grant on September 25, 2015.

This new three-year grant requires colleges to make an escalating cash match, with the goal of long-term sustainability. The grant works to increase the number of paid internship opportunities for Northwestern students while simultaneously providing local businesses with the resources to fund an internship program. 288 paid internships will be funded through this grant.

Students awarded internship funding will also receive professional development to bolster their transition into a career, according to Linda Ashworth, associate director of experiential education at the Center for Calling & Career.

"One exciting aspect of this grant is the collaboration it fosters between on-campus departments and with local businesses, government agencies and non-profits," said Ashworth, "Northwestern is focusing on helping local businesses develop internship programs that could be self-sustaining beyond the grant period."

Ashworth, along with Dayna Taylor, director of corporate and foundation relations, wrote and pursued the grant, awarded by Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation.

"University of Northwestern – St. Paul was a great 2014–2015 grant partner," said Nikki Wachter, Community Investments program manager for Great Lake Higher Education Guaranty Corporation. "They truly understand our goal of helping more students with financial need complete meaningful, paid internships. I look forward to working with them during the 2015–2018 Career Ready Internship grant and I am confident the opportunities will only continue to grow."

The Northwestern grant is part of a larger Great Lakes program that awarded $12 million in new grants to 33 colleges and universities in four states, with grants ranging from $205,200 to $448,500.

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University of Northwestern – St. Paul is a nondenominational Christian university in St. Paul, Minn. With a biblical worldview integrated into all programs, UNW provides a unique educational experience for students who want to combine faith and education. UNW offers 70+ areas of undergraduate study, six master's degrees, and online and early college programs. Northwestern Media, a ministry of the university, operates 15 Christian radio stations throughout the Midwest with a total listenership of more than one million listeners. Visit unwsp.edu for more information.

About Great Lakes: Dedicated to making college education a reality since 1967.

Knowing that education has the power to change lives for the better, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates was established as a nonprofit group focused on a single objective: helping students nationwide prepare for and succeed in postsecondary education and student loan repayment. As a leading student loan guarantor and servicer, Great Lakes has been selected by the U.S. Department of Education to provide assistance and repayment planning to more than 8 million borrowers-as well as assistance to colleges and lenders nationwide. The group's earnings support one of the largest and most respected education philanthropy programs in the country. Since 2006, Great Lakes has committed nearly $154 million in grant funding to promote higher education access and completion for students of color, low-income students, and first-generation students. For additional information, visit home.mygreatlakes.org

Posted Monday November 02, 2015 at 08:01 pm by University of Northwestern – St. Paul
Last Updated Monday November 09, 2015 at 03:15 pm