Nonprofit and business organizations in the community are joining the Kenyon Community Internship Program, an initiative that connects them with Kenyon student interns. Students take on professional projects that allow them to apply their knowledge and develop skills, while community partners benefit from assistance driving forward crucial projects that impact the greater Knox County community. The work of Kenyon interns and community partners extends past the office doors as it impacts the daily lives of Knox residents. Contact the Office for Community Partnerships at communityinfo@kenyon.edu or the Career Development Office at cdo@kenyon.edu to become a partner today.
Essential Resources
- Key Dates
- Intern Funding Application (Academic Year)
- Intern Funding Application (Summer)
Internship Resources
Handshake Resources
Funding Requests
Through the generosity of local philanthropists and foundations, nonprofit organizations can apply for funding assistance to support their Kenyon internships. For relevant dates, view the Key Dates link above, then access the application also provided in a separate link above.
Frequently Asked Questions
All community partners will now have access to post internships via the Handshake platform. If you are new to the program, please contact Kenyon’s Career Development Office (CDO) at cdo@kenyon.edu to request information on becoming a partner. Current partners should log in to their Handshake account to post internships. There are two primary hiring cycles: August (fall and spring internships) and February (summer internships).
Though the CDO will promote your position, we cannot guarantee that a student will have the availability, interests or requirements that match your needs. The CDO also provides resources and support for managing interns throughout the process.
For each applicant, you will receive a resume and cover letter (if requested). Through Handshake, partners can manage whether they receive application materials on a rolling basis (after each submission) or when the application period closes.
We encourage a phone, virtual or in-person interview to determine fit and to allow partners to analyze applicants more fully. Partners should identify top candidates of interest and review that group before the deadline listed on the Annual Timeline. *KCIP is open to sophomore, junior and senior students; first-year students are not eligible for community internships.
We encourage partners to pay their interns. The U.S. Department of Labor provides guidance on the situations in which unpaid internships for employers. Nonprofits can apply for funding awards through Kenyon to fund their interns (see links above).
Thanks to the generous support of donors, the program has limited funds to cover student awards at a handful of nonprofits each year. Organizations may apply for award consideration by posting their “unpaid” internship to Handshake, then completing the Funding Assistance Application. Please note that a position posted to Handshake is required. If you plan to apply for funding consideration, you may contact the CDO to get preliminary feedback on your job description before submitting your official request.
Funding applications are reviewed by committee, and organizations will be notified of funding decisions on the Award Notification Date on the Key Dates document linked above.
Academic year interns typically work 5-10 hours each week, but interns in non-grant awarded internships may work more if agreed upon by the intern and the partner. Remember that students will have many other commitments during academic year internships, so we recommend erring on fewer hours to ensure the intern is able to maintain steady participation throughout the experience. Summer interns often work between 20-40 hours a week for approximately 10 weeks, and you should budget for your summer intern accordingly.
Contact the Office for Community Partnerships (communityinfo@kenyon.edu) or the Career Development Office (cdo@kenyon.edu).
Community Partners and Donors
Business Intelligence Intern, Area Development Foundation
Historical Research and Storytelling Intern, Area Development Foundation
Marketing Intern, Ariel-Foundation Park Conservancy
Marketing and Communications Intern, Center of Hope
Public Communications Intern, City of Mount Vernon
Data and Analytics Intern, City of Mount Vernon - Engineer’s Office
HR Intern, City of Mount Vernon - Human Resources Office
Audio Visual Production Intern, City of Mount Vernon - Mayor's Office
Parks and Recreation Intern, City of Mount Vernon - Parks and Recreation Department
Eat Fresh, Eat Local Intern, Interchurch Social Services
Pediatric Intern, Knox Community Hospital
Care Coordinator Intern, Knox Community Hospital
Pre-Veterinary Internship, Knox County Humane Society
Special Projects, Archivist, and Design Intern, Knox Recorder's Office
Research and Development Intern, Knox Educational Service Center
Writing Intern, Knox Pages
Food Access Intern, Knox Public Health
Media and Communications Intern, Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival
Development & Writing Program Intern, Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County
NEA Big Read Intern, Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County
Quality Improvement Intern, The Freedom Center
Wetlands Restoration Intern, The Ohio Eastern Star Home
Poverty Simulation Intern, United Way of Knox County
Early Childhood Education Intern, United Way of Knox County
Geographic Information System Intern, Village of Gambier
Tax and Clerical Services Intern, Village of Gambier
Thanks to the generous support of donors, the program has been able to provide funding awards for internships at several nonprofit partner organizations.
Knox County Foundation
Mark and Denise Ramser
Park National Bank
103 College Drive
Gambier, Ohio 43022
Suite 100
400 S. Main Street
Mount Vernon, Ohio
43050