Internship Support Fund
Opening doors to hands-on experiences
With an internship, you can become field-tested before you even graduate. We're here to minimize barriers so you can enjoy great internship experiences with less financial stress.
Housing
Funding can be used to pay for a deposit on rental housing, the first month's rent, or other housing-related expenses.
Transportation
Alternatively, funding can be used to pay for a plane ticket to your internship location, for commuting expenses, or other transportation-related expenses.
Get Creative
We'll help you explore your anticipated expenses and offer funding for your most pressing needs.
Facts & Figures
Our numbers at a glance
$24,075
Total dollars awarded in 2024/2025
90+
Student awards since 2022
$928
Average award
Make your move
How to Apply
We want you to get this funding just as much as you do. Here's how to make that happen.
1
Complete the Application
Apply via our online application
2
Meet with Us
To get to know you and better understand your needs and career goals, finalists will be invited to meet with members of our team for a brief virtual interview.
3
Get Funded!
We will extend a funding offer to the most qualified finalists to subsidize agreed-upon expenses.
We review each application holistically—balancing demonstrated need, academic merit, past involvement and experience, adversities overcome, and the connection between the internship and the applicant’s career goals.
To stand out, write your application thoughtfully, tell your story honestly, and be sure to connect your internship with your career goals.
While we can’t fund your entire internship, we do want to help you reduce “barrier expenses.” These include the first expenses you might incur, such as the deposit on a housing rental, transportation to your internship location, your first month’s rent, or commuting expenses. We will work with finalists individually to determine the best direction for their funding.
We will provide each applicant with communications and next step instructions within ten business days of their application submission.
Applicants must:
- Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Have completed at least two semesters at Penn College before their internship begins
- Be pursuing a major-related work-based experience, credit-based internship, or clinical experience that includes a minimum of 120 hours.
Finalists who receive a funding offer must inform the Center for Career Design team if they accept a different internship offer. Funding offers are contingent upon the internship you apply to fund. We cannot guarantee your funding offer will remain if you switch internships.
Let’s get you funded.
The Center for Career Design exists to connect Wildcats with transformative professional experiences. Our team evaluates funding applications and works with qualified applicants to minimize barriers to professional experiences.
Check out what students have to say about their internship experience
Student
Lizeth Reyes-Becerra
Building Construction
Known for her work strong ethic and leadership skills, Lizeth seizes every opportunity to grow personally and professionally.
Alumni
Morgan Bartholomew
Polymer Engineering
When she graduated, Morgan left the college with a bachelor’s degree in plastics & polymer engineering technology, insights gained through three industry internships, three plastics conferences, two global experiences, a wealth of campus involvement, and a job waiting for her at TE Connectivity.
The Funders
Paying it forward
To expand access to professional experiences for Penn College students, Keith and Jennifer Kuzio and their family established the first endowed internship fund at the institution. “We both had great internship experiences during our college years, and we also saw the significant impact that internships had on the degree choices and career paths of our three children,” the Kuzios said. “The aim of this fund is to ‘pay it forward’ by helping Penn College students make the most of college internships that are available out there.”
Student Quotes
Maddie Bickings
“It helped with housing and helped cover the cost of safety courses and clearances."
Maddie Bickings, Summer 2023.
Dominic Valentine
"Funding allowed me to focus on the internship exclusively and cut back on my hours for my second job. This fund also allowed me to take an internship course at PCT and advance my academic journey.”
Dominic Valentine, Summer 2023.
Alec Rees
"This funding allowed me to fully commit my time to my internship and allowed me to focus on learning new skills. With the high expense of relocating to another state for the summer this fund ensured that it would be possible.”
Alec Rees, Summer 2024.
Gracie Gignac
"It helped me with the funds to get to and from my internship, as well as paid for my credit so I could have this experience. The funds have helped me significantly.”
Gracie Gignac, Summer 2024.
Ryan Long
"The funding allowed me to travel with my truck from Pennsylvania to Nebraska and allowed me to get an apartment here.”
Ryan Long, Summer 2025.
Malik Mills
"The Internship Support Funding helped me to buy my tools and pay for my travel.”
Malik Mills, Summer 2025.
Jade Neiman
"It helped me afford new scrubs, gas and meals while I did my internship.”
Jade Neiman, Summer 2025.
Interested in contributing to the fund?
With your support, we can connect more students with transformative internship experiences. Contact College Relations to make your gift today.