Oneida County College Corps Continues to Grow

Internship Program Places 190 Students with 47 Employers in 2019

The Oneida County College Corps Internship Program has continued to steadily grow over the past three years culminating with nearly 200 local college students being placed with close to 50 area employers in 2019.

“Our College Corps internship program gives Oneida County college students a golden opportunity to get hands-on experience with a variety of our community’s most successful and innovative employers,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Giving these bright young minds the chance to work at high-tech firms such as Black River Systems, not only gives them invaluable experience as they ready their career paths, but also provides them the possibility to stay here in our area and make a prosperous life for themselves.”

This year, the College Corps program placed 190 students with 47 employers in such fields of work as technology, engineering, business, law, marketing, education, health, finance and human services. The amount of interns and employers that participate in the program has steadily increased from 116 and 40 in 2017 and 170 and 40 in 2018.

“The Oneida County College Corps Internship Program has provided county college students with a unique opportunity to work alongside the great organizations in our areas for 21 years,” said Oneida County Workforce Development Director David Mathis. “Employers are able to host the future of our workforce in a cost-effective manner. Together we make our organizations and our workforce better for generations to come.”

The students interning in the program reside in 30 different county municipalities and attend more than 50 colleges throughout the country. They may work up to 200 hours and are paid by a 50/50 split between Oneida County and the employer.

“The College Corps Program has helped Black River introduce student engineers to their future career, to our company, and to the local area,” said Jeff Brandstadt, President of Black River Systems, an employee-owned company based in Utica that specializes in advanced research and development. “Many of the interns supported by this program have gone on to become valuable members of Black River’s staff.”

Photo Caption: (L-R) Oneida County Workforce Development Coordinator David Mathis, Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. and Black River Systems President Jeff Brandstadt.