Ten McHenry County College (MCC) students gained hands-on experience this summer through a 10-week paid internship program with local nonprofit organizations.
From June 1 through August 7, students completed internships with Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, NAMI McHenry County, Family Health Partnership Clinic, Home of the Sparrow, Independence Health and Therapy, and Pioneer Center. Their roles included work in marketing, health information, resource manuals, volunteer coordination, education, and executive leadership.
“Having fresh perspectives and energy makes a huge difference for our agency and our team,” said Leslie Blake, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County. “The interns are so full of great questions and ideas with the passion they have for our mission. It helps us in tackling some tactical work as well as some of the projects that we have been unable to without their help.”
The internships gave students the opportunity to put their classroom knowledge into practice while developing professional skills and learning more about careers in the nonprofit sector.
“Our interns brought energy, curiosity, and fresh ideas to our work,” said Edith Sanchez, Director of Education and Engagement at NAMI McHenry County, who hosted two interns this summer. “Their contributions supported our mission, but what made the experience meaningful was seeing them grow in confidence and recognize the value of their work. It was rewarding to help students take those first steps in their professional journeys.”
With support from the Community Impact: Developing Tomorrow’s Nonprofit Leaders Grant, MCC created the nonprofit internship program to bring together more coordinated opportunities for students and local organizations. The program also strengthens connections among local nonprofits, creating opportunities to share resources and knowledge while introducing students to the organizations working to serve the community.
“Students learn a lot about teamwork and communication, and get a taste of what careers in the nonprofit sector are,” said Blake. “Maybe most importantly, they get to see their hard work put into action in real time. The pride and confidence they get from that is a great launching point for their next steps.”
The College accepts applications for nonprofit internships on an ongoing basis. Students interested in participating can learn more about nonprofit internships here or contact MCC Career Services at careers@mchenry.edu or (815) 455-8566.
