Specialized Internship Programs & Funds

The Aspire Program is committed to experiential learning and providing comprehensive resources related to acquiring internships that benefit students’ professional goals.

Some industries tend to offer internships without pay or with limited pay. Students who need additional support to complete unpaid or low-paid internships can complete this universal application to be considered for all relevant funding awards administered through The Aspire Center.

NOTE: Some funding opportunities at the College, such as Wiggan-Kenniebrew Funds, are awarded through separate application processes.

Smeds Executive Internship Program

The Smeds Executive Internship Program is a summer internship program that allows Carthage students to apply their coursework in real-world settings. It enables companies and organizations to employ students for real-work projects while evaluating them as potential employees.

Students are nominated by faculty for the program and must be juniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2. Students of all majors are welcome. Smeds Executive Interns are typically paid by the companies/organizations and earn a stipend from funds earmarked by the program’s benefactor, Edward Smeds ’57, who chaired the Carthage Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2011. Hiring decisions are made by the employers.

more about the smeds executive internship program 

Unpaid / Low-paid Internship Funding Programs

Collaborating with the Tarble Family Foundation and many alumni donors, The Aspire Program provides students with access to funding to offset the costs of completing unpaid or low-paid internships. The largest fund, provided by the Tarble Family Foundation, provides an endowment to support experiential learning, including internships. The Ralph Tenuta Experiential Learning Fund assists students with offsetting costs for local experiences.

These programs are designed so students can take full advantage of the learning and experience gained through valuable experiential learning opportunities. The gifts provide support of up to $2,000 for eligible students who are working in internships that closely match their career goals. These gifts are available to students in all majors at the sophomore level and above. Students secure internships on their own. All internships are available for academic credit.

Wiggan-Kenniebrew Experiential Learning Fund

The Wiggan-Kenniebrew Experiential Learning Fund supports multicultural students to participate in co-curricular experiential learning opportunities not funded through tuition. The fund provides grants for such activities as study abroad; workshops and conferences; internships; Summer Undergraduate Research Experience grants at Carthage; insight visits to companies that have diversity hiring initiatives; and more!

This fund was established by the Wiggan-Kenniebrew Black Alumni Network, formed in 2018. This group of alumni is dedicated to supporting current Carthage students of color, especially those of African American descent and those who support the African American community.

more about the Black Alumni Network