The Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce is calling on businesses to participate in a program to give rising juniors and seniors a glimpse into career possibilities.
Applications are being accepted from businesses and students for the Students2Work program. The program is coordinated by the Student Workforce Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Business Education Advisory Council (BEAC).
“The council is made up of about 30 business partners within the community that come from varying backgrounds, and they discuss things such as students to work program, the student shadow program that we’re trying to implement as well,” Natalie Butler, the Chamber’s Associate Vice President for Workforce & Professional Development, explained for ABD.
“They also discuss ways that they can connect with the school system. We do a lot of partnerships with the Richmond County School System, and they see where there are needs within that school system, and how we, as a business community, can also connect with those students, the teachers, staff, and how we can better help out those departments there as well,” she added.
The goal of Students2Work is to give 250 students hands-on experience with businesses within Metro Augusta. Nonprofit organizations can also file an application to participate.
“Some businesses cannot host the intern, but they sponsor an intern,” Butler said. “And those sponsor interns are given to the nonprofits, which makes a huge impact within this community as well. Nonprofits such as Golden Harvest, United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, are truly grateful for the interns that they receive.”
Students2Work is just one aspect of the BEAC’s involvement with the Chamber and the school system. It also looks for ways to benefit students, the community, and the needs of the workforce.
“We also have our Talent2Work platform through the Chamber, and they discuss different ways where we can build up our workforce, which is extremely important here within this community. And how they can provide better job opportunities or provide better opportunities for people that are wanting to learn more about different positions within the workforce as well,” said Butler.
Businesses interested in participating in Students2Work can apply to the Chamber through March 31. An application on the program’s website will allow businesses to provide information for Butler to review.
“They would basically tell me exactly where their business is located and where this student will be placed. Then contact information and supervisor information and what type of business they have,” she said. “We do have some businesses that require students to be 18 or older, so that’s something they would have to indicate on the host agreement. Then check off the type of industry sector that they’re involved in, which will help us in filtering students and determining who goes where to what internship, and how many interns they’re requesting.”
Butler said the program is designed to introduce students to the variety of career opportunities available to them after high school. It can also help students determine if they need a four-year college degree, training through a technical school like Augusta Technical College, or if enlisting in the military is best for them.
Interested students must apply by February 28. Students selected will attend in-person interviews or orientation during the week of April 14. Parents are permitted to accompany their students. May 28 through 30 will be soft skills training, including communication, problem-solving, and time management. March 30 will also be Match Day and a meet and greet with employers. The program runs from June 2 – July 8.
More information is available on the program’s website: https://students2work.org/. There are links to the student and business applications on the website.
