Read time:
Christopher Newport has been named one of Virginia’s top employers for interns by Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, a program of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
It is the first time CNU has been so honored and the University joins two other public universities in a distinction that primarily goes to businesses and nonprofit organizations.
The award bolsters CNU’s focus on providing students with opportunities for meaningful internships. Princeton Review ranked the University as #7 in the nation for the breadth of internship opportunities offered students at employers such as Canon Virginia, NASA, Ferguson Enterprises, and Huntington Ingalls Industries.
While those are near campus, the Center for Career Planning this year also offered paid internship opportunities on campus in fields such as marketing, event planning and peer education. “The skills our students learn on campus as interns and the connections they make will serve them well, whether they pursue a higher education position after graduation or take what they’ve learned into another sector,” said Sarah Hobgood, director of the CCP.
For example, Tim Smith ‘26 (pictured) is a photographer in the Office of Communications and Public Relations. “Just as in a corporate setting, internships lead to jobs and we almost always have at least one or two members of our staff who began as interns,” said Chief Communications Officer Jim Hanchett.
Smith and the other interns work on specialized projects so that they can explore career areas and build skills. Each has a professional development plan where they set goals for the internship and then receive skills training to ensure they’re on a path that could lead to a career. They also receive assistance with resume development, job interview preparation and guidance in organizing a post-graduation job search.
CNU and the other award recipients will be honored on Virginia Intern Day in July.
The annual award celebrates Virginia employers in all sectors who provide high-quality internships to students. “These businesses are models for other employers. They are using innovative methods to help students apply their learning, develop practical work-based skills, and strengthen Virginia’s efforts to prepare the future workforce,” said Scott Fleming, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.