Internships

What is an Internship?

The Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency Internship Program is a 6-10 hour per week independent study course related to a high school senior student’s career pathway.  The non-paid time will be spent with a local business/agency where students are trained and supervised by one or more business site employees. 

Students are expected to follow both internship and their business site attendance rules and policies.  Students are responsible to make their own transportation arrangements to and from their training site.  Internship grades are assigned by the internship coordinator and based on a site supervisor evaluation, student work maturity, learning progress and a daily written journal.  Individual site supervisors may assign additional projects and papers.  Student letter grades are based on individual site supervisor workplace comparisons and expectations.  Prior to the start of an internship, the business, parent, school, and student must all approve the training schedule and task expectations.

Application Process

The internship application process requires completion of an internship application, resume and recommendation from the school counselor.  The student will then interview with the internship program coordinator and, if accepted, will then interview with a business or agency.  Most internship students that get to this stage are placed.

The Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA) Internship Program is offered to high school seniors and features a 6-10 hour per week independent study course related to the student’s career pathway. Students receive high school credit for successful completion of their Work-Based Learning Experience.

Participating in this hands-on experience allows students to see first-hand the importance of their studies and create valuable networking opportunities with business professionals. Exploring different careers allows students to make informed, inspired decisions about their educational development and career decisions. Internships emotionally engage students in learning and prepare and inspire them for the real world.

As a result of the internship experience students gain career awareness, an opportunity to explore a professional work environment, a chance to make career decisions before taking on post-secondary debt, receive constructive criticism on soft-skills needed to succeed in the workplace, and they learn technical skills required for a certain career or trade.

The MARESA Internship Coordinator work to find a host site best aligned with the student’s interests and Educational Development Plan. Over the last few years more than 150 internship sites in Marquette and Alger counties have hosted students.

The internship application process requires completion of an application, resumé and recommendation from the school counselor. The student will then interview with the internship program coordinator and, if accepted, will then interview with a business or agency. High school juniors interested in applying for an internship during their senior year should contact their high school guidance counselor.