By Joyce Huber The Minority Access National Diversity & Inclusion Internship Program has been voted the 2019 Internship of the Year and for good reason. The Internship Program offers an attractive internship open to all students that include pay, stipends, travel expenses, and housing assistance. Minorities and others are encouraged to apply.

By  Joyce Huber The job market for college grads is changing and becoming more competitive. Now, in addition to GPA and accomplishments, employers want to see more applicants who have completed one or more internships. In fact, according to Monster.com, internship experience is one of the most important factors now for employers when considering new college grads for full-time positions. An internship gives students on-the-job experience while they are still in college. Why is this so important? Internships teach skills that are beyond classroom knowledge. For employers, a college student who has completed one or more internships is often equivalent to full-time employees who have been on the job for many years. For college students, listing one or more internships on their resume shows initiative and real job experience in their field, making them more competitive than other college students who have not completed an internship and more valuable to employers.

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Diversity Internship Program is open to students from ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including but not limited to Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American, and Hispanic descent. It is for undergraduate students with an interest in learning about fundraising and communications at an international human rights organization. The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Diversity Internship Program is a 12-week, part-time, summer internship work opportunity for deserving students with an interest in the international human rights field. Summer internship applicants must have a grade point average of 3.2 or above and have completed their freshman year in college. They must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate college program.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Internship Program is open to high school students, current college students, and post graduate adults seeking skills for a new career. Several summer internship programs are available. The Summer Affirmative Action Internship Program (SAAIP) is a paid summer internship program offered by the State of Wisconsin. The internship is for racial/ethnic minorities, female students, and students with disabilities and provides them with an opportunity to work in a professional work environment within Wisconsin state government.

SAMHSA Internship Program is open to all college students who have completed their freshman year of college before the internship begins. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply; students who have graduated within the last 12 months may also apply. Candidates must have interest in and experience in the following areas: Public Health, Behavioral and Social Sciences, Public Policy, Business Communications, Business Administration, and Information Technology. All candidates must have a GPA of 3.0 or above. They must also be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

This internship is designed to help minority students who are attending college and interested in a career in business or public administration. It is open to minority students who are college juniors, seniors or graduate students. The internship is at the Smithsonian Institute and is for a duration of ten weeks. Interns will receive a stipend of $550 per week and may also be eligible for financial assistance with travel expenses. Interested students must be citizens of the U.S. or permanent U.S. residents. Interns may work at any one of the Smithsonian Institution's offices, museums, and research institutes.

NASCAR Diversity Internship Program is a 10-week, full-time, paid summer work opportunity for deserving students with an interest in the NASCAR industry, who are of Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, or of other racial minority descent. Students must have an interest in the NASCAR industry. This exciting program is available to students with a grade point average of 3.0 or above who have completed their sophomore year in college. They must currently be enrolled in either an undergraduate or graduate college program. Students receive competitive pay, tickets to a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, and help with housing.

American Bar Association Judicial Intern Program is open to students who are members of racial and ethnic groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the law profession. Minorities as well as students with disabilities, students who are economically disadvantaged, women, and students who identify themselves as LGBT are encouraged to apply. The program is open to first- and second-year law students; applications for first-year law students will be considered first, followed by applications from first-year law students. The program is a full-time (32 hours per week), six-week minimum, summer internship program.

NABJ Internships are offered by The National Association of Black Journalists to black students pursuing careers in journalism. Internships are offered to qualified students in print, broadcast or online disciplines at selected news organizations around the country. Internships occur during the summer and last 10 weeks. Selected students may work at any one of several news organizations, from small black-owned weekly newspapers to major market dailies and broadcast outlets. They may be assigned to newspapers, television and radio stations and online news services. Interns will gain valuable experience in hands-on reporting, editing, shooting and design experience in professional work settings.

Erie Insurance Future Focus Internship Program is committed to helping undergraduate and graduate college students learn and grow with a challenging internship position that will offer relevant and real world business experience. ERIE’s internships are paid, competitive and available in many disciplines.

Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Intern Program is open to minority college students interested in a career in aviation. Scholarships are available in many academic fields, including Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Information Technology, and more. The internship program is open to students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, students from institutions with a high percentage of enrollment from Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Tribal colleges and universities and students with disabilities. Students must be juniors in college with a grade point average of 3.0 or above.

Tavis Smiley Internship Program is a diversity-focused program for college students who want to pursue a career in broadcasting. Internships are offered in publicity, event production, media archives, and radio journalism. Interns will be paid for 12 weeks and be required to work 15-20 hours per week during the internship. Candidates must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university and major in the internship area for which they are applying. They must also obtain course credit for the internship.

Monell Center Science Apprenticeship Program offers paid internships to high school and undergraduate college students in the Philadelphia area. The internship is designed to increase student knowledge about science and research. The 7-week internship is offered during the summer and runs from June to August. Interns work full-time at 35 hours per week, with pay. Housing and meals are not included, but all students living outside commuting distance will be connected to a host family and will have a safe place to stay during the internship.

The Minority Access Internship Program offers spring, summer and fall internships for college sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduates, and professionals. All internships are paid and include stipends, travel expenses, and housing assistance. It is open to all students; minorities are encouraged to apply. Students must be enrolled full-time at an U.S. accredited college or university and have a grade point average of 3.0 or above. Interns are placed in positions with various government organizations and corporations where they will receive hands-on experience working in a professional environment.

The Strong invites undergraduate and graduate college students from diverse backgrounds with an interest in a career in the museum field, to take part in the museum’s Diversity Internship Program. The Strong, located in Rochester, NY, is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play. It is one of the largest history museums in the United States and one of the leading museums serving families and children. The Diversity Internship Program was created to provide meaningful work experiences for students from diverse backgrounds, especially those who may be interested in a career in the museum profession. Undergraduate students interested in participating in the program must have completed at least one full year of college. Depending upon the availability of projects, interns may choose to focus on a particular area in the museum such as administration, collections, education, exhibits, marketing, or guest services, or interns may opt fo...

Greening Youth Foundation HBCUI Internship Program offers paid internships for HBCU (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) students around the country. The internships are through the National Park Service and U.S. Department of the Interior. The internships are paid, 10-week programs, including housing, that provides students a hands-on work experience at one of 12 National Park Services around the country. Positions may include facilities management, security, museum, historical research, ranger, business management, marketing and public relations, and much more.

Beats by Dre Internships and Jobs are available for students as well as graduates and experienced workers interested in an environment that combines technology with music. Positions are available within the U.S. and internationally. Beats by Dre is a California-based consumer electronics company whose products enable consumers to enjoy music at its max. The company produces premium consumer headphones, earphones, speakers and accessories, as well as music subscription service. Their products and services give consumers premium sound entertainment.

Year Up is an intensive training program that helps urban young adults increase their technical skills and prepare for a career in information technology. The program combines teaching students valuable IT, communication, and professional skills, plus internships at top companies. Year Up offers training programs in Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, New York, Seattle, San Francisco and other locations. Students spend six months learning IT skills and are then placed in an internship with a company needing IT skills. Students are paid a stipend during the internship program. Students also receive mentoring, guidance and expert career advice during the program.

Explore Microsoft Internship Program is for current college undergraduate minority students pursuing a degree in computer science or software engineering. Students may apply in their freshman or sophomore year of college. Women, minorities (African American, American Indian, Hispanic), and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The internship program is 12 weeks during the summer at Microsoft. This opportunity gives students first-hand experience in software development and exposure to the field of computer science, computer engineering, or related technical areas. Work includes hands-on projects as well as group projects.

The White House Initiative’s Year-round Internship Program offers an exciting experience for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in improving education outcomes for African Americans. This is an unpaid internship working for the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. This internship gives students an opportunity to learn about the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. This initiative was launched by President Obama in July of 2012 as an effort to improve educational opportunities for African American students and increase overall rates for students completing college.