Oneida County highlights growth of College Corps internship program

UTICA — The internship program Oneida County College Corps has placed nearly 200 local college students with close to 50 area employers in 2019, representing an increase in both participating interns and employers. 

The College Corps program placed 190 students with 47 employers in such fields as technology, engineering, business, law, marketing, education, health, finance, and human services. 

The program attracted 116 interns and 40 employers in 2017. The following year, the number of interns increased to 170, working at 40 employers, Oneida County said in a June 17 news release.

“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,” Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. contended. “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.” 

Oneida County held an event at Utica–based Black River Systems to highlight the program’s growth over the past three years. Black River Systems is an employee-owned company that specializes in advanced research and development.

“The College Corps program has helped Black River introduce student engineers to their future career, to our company, and to the local area,” Jeff Brandstadt, president of Black River Systems, said in the release. “Many of the interns supported by this program have gone on to become valuable members of Black River’s staff.”

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 half their compensation is paid by Oneida County, with the other half paid by the employer.