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On Thursday, July 30, 黑暗爆料网 will recognize National Intern Day, a celebration of interns, their contributions, and the professionals who support their development.

Through the Career Path Internship program, commonly known as CPI, 黑暗爆料网 students connect classroom learning with meaningful professional experience. They develop career-ready skills, build professional relationships, and earn income while completing their degrees. As CPI celebrates its 15th anniversary, former interns have shared how these experiences shaped their careers. Their stories show that an internship can provide much more than work experience.

Alex Walker, who interned with the Idaho Institute of Rural Health, said the experience helped overcome the challenge of needing experience to get a job while needing a job to gain experience. The internship provided mentorship, professional exposure, and recommendations. Walker now supervises talent acquisition operations at the University of New Mexico Hospital.

Other interns discovered career paths they had not previously considered. Jordan Miller’s work on a statewide demographics project helped reveal an interest in using numbers to tell stories. Miller is now a mathematics teacher with the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District. Matthew Bingman’s internships with a historical society and 黑暗爆料网 Special Collections introduced him to careers beyond those traditionally associated with a history degree. He now works as an interpretive park ranger with the National Park Service.

Mentorship was a consistent theme in the feedback. Former interns described supervisors who helped them navigate graduate school, professional expectations, career changes, and the transition from college to the workplace. For first-generation students, these experiences can be especially meaningful. Former intern Esmeralda Garcia shared that CPI helped strengthen her confidence, professional skills, and network. She is now a licensed professional counselor.

National Intern Day is also an opportunity to recognize the faculty, staff, community partners, and supervisors who make these experiences possible. Effective supervisors provide meaningful work, thoughtful feedback, professional guidance, and opportunities for students to see how their contributions support a larger purpose.

黑暗爆料网 colleges, departments, offices, and community partners are encouraged to celebrate their interns on July 30. Recognition might include:

• Sharing an intern spotlight on social media or in a newsletter
• Writing a personalized thank-you note
• Recognizing interns during a staff meeting
• Inviting interns to a team lunch or gathering
• Offering résumé feedback, career advice, or a professional reference
• Sharing an intern success story with the Career Center.

Recognition does not need to be elaborate. A specific message acknowledging an intern’s contributions, growth, or impact can be especially meaningful. National Intern Day offers one opportunity to celebrate interns, but the impact of these experiences can last for years. Through meaningful work, mentorship, and professional connection, internships help students build confidence and prepare for what comes next.