University of Southern Maine



Media Contact:Angie Helton(207) 653-0365angie@FocusMaine and Educate Maine Introduce Expanded Intern Experience Program for All Maine College StudentsPanel Discussion on Thinking Beyond the Traditional Internship Kick-Off Event will be held in partnership with Educate MainePortland, Maine (May 13, 2020) --- In light of the pandemic and its associated impact on the number of available internships, FocusMaine, in concert with its partner, Educate Maine, is expanding this innovative program to make it available for all Maine college students regardless of internship status. The summer 2020 program will be based on a series of workshops, panel discussions, and presentations where students will connect with business leaders, get valuable career advice, and gain critical skills to grow their career all while learning about available career opportunities and industries in Maine. Students can enroll by registering for one of the virtual events or through the website . There is no charge to participate. The FocusMaine Intern Experience is a statewide program that provides exceptional career building and networking events for Maine students and the businesses where they work. The program is designed to give participants access to Maine businesses, leaders, and experiences with a goal to inspire interns to start their careers in Maine following graduation, helping to grow the state’s workforce.?This program is open to all Maine college students, inclusive of both in and out-of-state enrollment.?FocusMaine President Kim Hamilton commented, “Extreme pressures are facing Maine’s businesses, that in recent summers have provided paid summer internships that often attract many career-ready workers to Maine and provide early stage opportunities for Maine students. Finding ways to support Maine students now is more important than ever. By offering professional development and networking experiences through new means and to more students, our goal is to help secure a more promising future for young Mainers and to continue to cultivate a robust workforce that will sustain Maine businesses, including in our core sectors.” To kick off its expanded program, FocusMaine, in partnership with Educate Maine, is hosting a panel?discussion with student speakers who will share interesting resume-growing opportunities that they've found, created or experienced since the pandemic began. Program Manager, Kate Howell commented, “Students across the country have been impacted by a reduction in available internships. By opening our program this summer, we can support the Maine students we know are eager to grow their careers outside of a traditional internship. Who better to inspire them than students just like themselves who are paving their own path? The goal of the May panel is to provide ideas to help students get creative and introduce them to the programming the FocusMaine Intern Experience can provide this summer to help them on that journey.” This is event is sponsored by Systems Engineering.What:Internship Alternatives: Meet Students Who Built Their Own ExperienceWhen:Tuesday, May 19 at 1:00 PMWhere:To attend this virtual event register at: REGISTERStudent speakers scheduled to participate include: Alicia Gaiero?is a Maine native and a Geography and Environmental Planning major at the University of Maine Farmington, with a focus in the field of Aquaculture. She has been balancing college life and her company, Gnarly Neckies, which makes ski accessories. Since the pandemic began, Alicia shifted her business from neck coverings to face coverings to fill an immediate local need. She has also been staying connected to the aquaculture industry through freelance mapping for site selection and state aquaculture leases. Alicia is committed to launching her own oyster farm this summer.?Emily Larsen?is a Maine native currently studying Justice and Political Science at American University with a certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies. She has been an active member of the Higher Achievement program, which strives to encourage academic excellence in young adults, and has always had a passion for community service. Following her return to Maine during the pandemic, Emily began volunteering with Educate Maine, supporting communications efforts to raise awareness around the 2020 Books Challenge.Mark Bray?is Biomedical Engineering Student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and an alumnus of the FocusMaine Intern Experience having completed an internship with EnviroLogix in Portland last summer. As a WPI Engineering Ambassador he has worked teaching and mentoring youth throughout college and found opportunity on that path during the pandemic working as an online tutor. Mark has also been working remotely supporting research for a biomedical start-up building his industry connections.?Zeinab Ibrahim?is an Iraqi native and moved to Maine in 2003. She is currently completing her Nursing degree at the University of Southern Maine. As a?fluent in English and Arabic speaker Zeinab has been supporting her community and using her medical education through work as a Medical Interpreter. She is also an inaugural member of the Natural Helpers program working to ensure impactful communication across Portland's many diverse communities to give access to jobs, support services, and economic?opportunities across?our region.?The Focus Maine Intern Experience is executed in partnership with Educate Maine and the support of Live + Work in Maine.About FocusMaine:FocusMaine is a private-sector led initiative to accelerate the creation of quality jobs in Maine by investing in three of Maine’s most globally competitive and high-growth industries: agriculture, aquaculture, and biopharmaceuticals.About Educate Maine:Educate Maine champions career readiness by increasing the educational attainment of Maine people, enabling all students to succeed in postsecondary education and in the workplace. As a business-led education advocacy organization, Educate Maine administers four signature programs with key partners: Maine Teacher of the Year Program, Project>Login, Education Leaders Experience, and FocusMaine Intern Experience.### ................
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