Nearly 1,000 Students Participated in 2024 High School Tech Internship Program

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, today announced that nearly 1,000 Ohio high school students participated in the 2024 High School Tech Internship program, providing them with real-world experience in tech-related roles at an early age.

“This is how we keep our young talent in Ohio, by connecting them to employers and career paths before they leave high school,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “When we started, many employers were skeptical that high school students were up to the task but given the fact that this year we hit a record number of intern requests shows employers and students see the value of the program.”

The High School Tech Internship program is an opportunity for high school students to participate in tech-related internships with Ohio companies in software development, data, cloud and IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and broadband/5G related roles. The goal of the program is to provide businesses with the tech talent they need while providing students with valuable work experience at an early age. Nearly 1,000 students from over 250 schools participated in this year’s program, almost doubling the number of students from the previous year.

Lt. Governor Husted also announced today that the application period to become an intermediary through the High School Tech Internship program begins today, September 9, 2024, and closes October 4, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Selected intermediaries will administer the program regionally for internships taking place in summer 2025.

High School Tech Internship Intermediaries serve as the point of contact for businesses and education entities throughout the internship process, allowing the program to be administered more collaboratively between the educational entities, businesses, and the state. Examples of intermediaries include economic development organizations, workforce and education partnerships, and other community-based groups.

“Ohio is leading the way in innovation, driving technological advancements that have a global impact,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “These internships help establish a recruitment pipeline for businesses, while inspiring our future workforce to discover the career opportunities available to them right here in Ohio.”

“Our students benefit when learning extends beyond the classroom and we show them how to connect their interests to marketable skills, training, and a future career,” said Stephen D. Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. “Providing more students with authentic, work-based applications to add to their portfolio of experiences will enrich their personal learning journeys, help them achieve success following high school, and boost Ohio’s workforce. Opening the doors to careers can change the course of a student’s understanding about what’s possible, and I’m excited about how the High School Tech Internship program will continue to elevate opportunities for more future developers, IT specialists, and innovators.”

To apply to be a 2025 High School Tech Internship Intermediary, visit: Workforce.Ohio.gov/HSTI.