Summer Youth Internship Program Kicks Off 10th Year Anniversary Connecting M-DCPS Students with Local Businesses

The Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP), which connects high school students with hundreds of employers so they can earn job experience, kicked off its 10th year on Monday. The event welcomed new, potential internship partners, and encouraged them to join the program. Attendees also heard directly from previous student interns on how they benefited from the experience.

"SYIP is painting a portrait of our graduates in this community. It is bringing us all together to ensure that students not only learn in school, but they learn locally in their communities and local industries," said Schools Superintendent Dr. Jose L. Dotres. “When we make these connections, we create an incredible eco-system of learning."

For 10 years, SYIP has given M-DCPS students the opportunity to register for a five-week paid workforce experience over the summer in a myriad of fields. Participating employers benefit from these students at no cost to them. So far about 800 employers have signed up to hire student interns and some 3,000 students are expected to participate this summer.

"It's not just what's good for the students, it's what's good for the organizations," said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. "In our county administration, the young people bring an energy and excitement, and everybody wants to mentor and contribute. It's a very uplifting experience for us."

M-DCPS is partnering with The Children’s Trust, Miami-Dade County, Career Source South Florida, EdFed – The Educational Federal Credit Union, and the Foundation for New Education Initiatives to offer these internships, which are available to students in grades 10 to 12, who complete the application process by May 9. All new and former employers must register at miamiinterns.org. They can hire up to 10 interns during the program.

President & CEO of The Children’s Trust James R. Haj noted that in roundtables with different industries in the last couple of years, whether it be health or finance, what employers always highlight is that they cannot find talent.
 
“With SYIP we have built a pipeline to help develop the talent, as industries come and we're able to evolve,” said Haj. “Employers have the ability to pick right here, home grown, the talent that we have at Miami-Dade County Public Schools and to really build a workforce of tomorrow.”

Students have been placed in Miami-Dade County offices, veterinary offices, restaurants, engineering firms, daycare centers, law offices, and many other fascinating places. Giving students the opportunity to explore future careers while getting paid and earning high school credit is another example of why M-DCPS is your best choice.

Ernesto Korin, a junior at Miami Coral Park Senior High School, interned at Earth Robotics last summer and had the opportunity to work with cutting edge industry-level supercomputers at the company's headquarters.
 
"I got feedback from real industry professionals about computer science projects, how to take smaller components or technologies and build them into systems." said Korin. "You can be as passionate as you want but until you see the real world, you don't know what you're up against. It's just an incredible experience."

Last summer 3,187 students from 93 schools participated in internships with 974 employers. M-DCPS and its partners invested $6.25 million in the program. All students enrolled in the SYIP receive high school credit and may be eligible to receive college credit through dual enrollment with Miami-Dade College.

For additional information, please call 305 693-3005 or visit miamiinterns.org.

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