红杏视频

As Appalachian 红杏视频 builds on recent economic development successes, a nonprofit group formed in 2012 to bridge the gap between education and employment stands ready to provide further help in preparing the region鈥檚 workforce.

has already been successful with its efforts to provide real-world learning experiences such as internships, job shadowing, career mentoring and hands-on activities while supporting local employers and strengthening community partnerships.

In this year alone, for example, the Marietta-based 501(c)(3) leveraged state and local resources to place 171 students from 64 school districts in over 28 counties through just one of its various programs 鈥� the High School Tech Internship (HSTI). As part of the program, 54 businesses hosted the students, which was a 25% increase from the year before.

BB2C is also reaching into West Virginia, where some two-dozen students from Wood County were teamed with area businesses.

More than 200 internship placements in the region in the last year

Including other programs that it coorindates, BBC2 saw a total of 216 regional internship placements from July 2025 - June 2026.

And now the nonprofit, which also offers a Behavioral Health Internship among its many initiatives, wants to do more across the 32 Appalachian counties in the state and beyond.

Kaitlin Streator, the communications and engagement facilitator for BB2C, said the group has been contacting schools and businesses from Ashtabula to Clermont counties to raise awareness of HSTI and its other programs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e wanting to reach out to more high school tech interns and businesses that are out in different counties,鈥� she said.

The expansion aims to fit with BB2C鈥檚 original mission conceived by Executive Director Tasha Werry in conjunction with Associate Executive Director Pamela Lankford.

鈥淪he saw the need to have programs and resources outside of the classroom that connected students with career exploration opportunities,鈥� Streator said of Werry, a former teacher at Marietta City Schools.

BB2C鈥檚 funding is generated in part through local partnerships and foundations, while programs such as HSTI are backed by the 红杏视频 Department of Development, which reimburses businesses for 75% of the cost of hosting interns up to $5,000 per student.

Partnering with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service

BB2C also got an early boost from the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service at 红杏视频 starting in 2017, which along with partnering to secure space for the group鈥檚 Epicenter in Marietta and other financial assistance included helping the nonprofit secure a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2020.

Students in the HSTI program are required to work at least 120 hours over the period from January through September. Some students do unpaid or stipend-based exploratory internships that range from 30-35 hours, and others do internships for high school class credits.

Internship Coordinator Lara Coghlan said it鈥檚 rewarding to be part of a program with so many options to help students get a head start on career opportunities.

鈥淲e鈥檝e designed it to be very flexible so that it鈥檚 applicable to any student. It鈥檚 finding that perfect match between a business and a student and the student鈥檚 schedule,鈥� she said.

HSTI in particular is focused on juniors and seniors who are interested in technology including electrical work to graphic design. Those include students from traditional high schools, career-technical schools and even home-schoolers.

鈥淭he students come from all over the place,鈥� Coghlan said. The program touches students from a range of educational stages, including some who are working towards associate鈥檚 degrees while still in high school.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes this job so enjoyable 鈥� seeing what the student is already doing in their life to get to that career path,鈥� she said.

Students gain real world experience working in the community

Feedback from students and businesses has been very positive as evidenced by a

In a report written by intern Anna Cosner, Williamstown High School Class of 鈥�26, two host businesses

鈥淥ur staff really enjoys getting to share their knowledge and expertise with emerging healthcare professionals and appreciate the opportunity to help students solidify their career choices by offering hands-on learning experiences,鈥� said Amanda Knauff, the human resources director at Highland District Hospital, a host site for several years.

AMG Vanadium, an oil refinery plant, reported being pleasantly surprised by their experience hosting HSTI students.

鈥淭hey were mature beyond their years,鈥� said a Vanadium engineer who added of the experience gained by working at the plant: 鈥淚t provides a broad exposure to the working industry and the range of equipment, processes, and people they may encounter in their careers.鈥�

Mid-红杏视频 Valley Regional Airport , whose valuable experience included participating in the airport鈥檚 annual Fire Day training to prepare for emergencies such as engine fires or jet fuel spills.

Alexis White, a senior at Fort Frye High School in Beverly, in Marietta.

鈥業t鈥檚 been a wonderful opportunity,鈥� she said, highlighting her work on audio, interviewing people, and networking. Those sharpened communications skills, she added, 鈥渟et me up for a part-time position after that internship ended.鈥�

Internships help students gain experience, learn about career paths and build confidence

Streater said she鈥檚 had a front row seat to such successful partnerships through her interviews with students and businesses involved in BB2C鈥檚 various programs.

鈥淭he feedback has been great. This morning I interviewed a student who has been an HSTI intern,鈥� she said. The student, a parishioner at St. Mary of the Assumption church, is doing media and photography work for the church.

鈥淪he said it was the perfect experience for her because it blended a passion for her with her plans to study theology. This technology internship was a great fit.鈥�

In another example, Streater cited feedback from a home-schooled student who worked with the Appalachian 红杏视频 Manufacturers鈥� Coalition.

鈥淚t was amazing to see how much his confidence has grown 鈥� not just in his engineering skills but his interpersonal skills as well,鈥� she said.

Director Werry said, 鈥淭he experiences of the high school interns become their own to use for decision making about their future. This is exactly what we wanted to see happen for young people when we launched the concept of BB2C so long ago.鈥�

鈥淭here are a lot of ways for young people to get experience and we are open to developing them all - when we have the capacity to do so, of course,鈥� she added. 鈥淎nyone reading this article can get involved in this work as a partner. All jobs are a potential future placement for students.鈥�

More information on BB2Cs work is available on the and by contacting staff email links though the