Executive High School Internship

What is the Internship Program?

The Executive High School Internship Program enables high school students with high ability and leadership to learn from organization executives, managers, and other professionals.

Interns earn elective credit as unpaid assistants in the fields of business, media, theatre, education, industry, government, social services, ministry, medicine, and many other fields.

Students selected for this program may choose from a variety of scheduling combinations in order to meet graduation requirements.  For example, students may do an internship for four hours on their schedule for 2 full credits or l hour on their schedule for ½ credit.  Interns take a leave from the tradition classroom and spending time with their sponsors. 

The Executive High School Internship Program originated in 1971 as a joint  enterprise of New York’s Human Resources Administration and Board of Education.  After only one year of success, foundation grants were received to assist a number of other districts in establishing their own models.  The program is now recognized nationally for its excellence in secondary education.

Who are the Interns?

The interns are high school juniors and seniors who are eager to learn from experience in the “real world”.  These experiences supplement their academic courses.

Interns must have good grades, show initiative and flexibility, motivation for achievement, adept and complete challenges, good attendance, a positive attitude, the ability to communicate with others and special talents and skills of value to particular sponsors.

What do Interns do?

The role of the intern varies depending on the mutual interests of the sponsor and the intern.  Interns may spend the majority of their time in one area or rotate among various departments and personnel.

What do Sponsors (mentors) do?

Sponsors participate in the program because they can provide the opportunity for a challenging and stimulating opportunity for young people.  

Who is the Coordinator?

The EHI Coordinator is a professional on the local school district staff who has been assigned the responsibility for developing and monitoring the program.

What are the benefits for an intern?

Interns gain:

• A realistic understanding of the organization at all levels
• The opportunity to test a career interest and explore new options
• Self confidence to assume responsibility, make decisions, and develop good communication skills
• Insight into how education is used in the job market and the importance of a well-balanced education
• Experience to help make decisions about future study

What are the benefits for the sponsor?

Sponsors gain:

• The opportunity to guide and mentor highly motivated, enthusiastic young people who will be the leaders of tomorrow
• An opportunity to promote broader recognition of their career as a profession
• An opportunity to let students take advantage of the community’s resources

Frequently Asked Questions and Comments:

How will internships affect college acceptance?

Admissions official seek applicants with something unique to offer.  An internship is very unusual for a high school student.  Interns have won acceptance to hundreds of colleges and universities.

Do interns receive credit for the program?

Yes, credit is determined by how may hours the intern completes in the program.

How can I benefit from the Executive High School Internship Program?

“It helped me with my career choice and made me see the purpose of the courses I was taking”

"This was the most realistic learning I have ever had.""Now I know exactly what I want.  I didn’t before."

"It made me realize that I did not want to major in a field I had always thought I was suited for.  It saved me from making a major mistake in college."

"I really grew up from all the exposure and responsibility."

"It was a major item on my transcript that affected my acceptance into a select college."