By Emily Fox · Editor-in-chief
Despite the snowy weather, spring semester is in full swing, and, naturally, that means Grover achievers are on the hunt for summer internships. But they don’t have to wait until the semester is over to get started on adding some experience to their resumés.
The Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation is accepting applications for the E+I Fellows Program, an opportunity for students to gain real work experience as interns for real businesses located in Western Pa.
The E+I Fellows Program facilitates mutually beneficial working relationships between students and businesses. E+I gathers a carefully vetted group of nonprofits, small businesses and startups looking to hire interns for an eight week period. Students apply for the program through the E+I website, and both the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation and potential employers then review those applications. Students had the opportunity to meet representatives of employers at Preview Night on Jan. 22. This spring, 11 host organizations were accepted into the cohort and met potential interns at Preview Night.
“It’s a valuable networking opportunity where students can make a strong first impression and, in many cases, fast-track their application and interview process. Last fall, 88% of our accepted E+I Fellows attended preview night, and many secured interviews specifically because they engaged with employers during the event,” E+I Community Manager Emma O’Toole ’23 said.
After preview night, employers determine which candidates they want to interview based on the applications and interactions they had with students at the networking event.
The program provides students with experience doing work relevant to their career interests and the opportunity to build their resumé. It also gives the organizations the chance to work with young, skilled and motivated interns without cost to the business. E+I pays students $25 per hour to work for partner organizations, making the program the highest paying job on campus.
This spring, one of the most attractive features of the program for students is its flexibility.
“All internship placements for the spring 2026 semester are fully remote, giving students the freedom to work from their dorms or anywhere on campus between classes, in the evenings and even on the weekends. This structure allows students to pursue a meaningful, career-building experience without leaving campus or taking on unrelated off-campus jobs. As a result, students are able to gain high-quality, discipline-specific experience while staying fully engaged in campus life,” O’Toole said.
Along with complementing a college student’s lifestyle, the E+I Fellows Program provides students with invaluable experience working in their chosen field before entering the workforce. Senior design and innovation major Mara Brak recalls how working as an intern in her discipline impacted her professional development:
“Being an E+I Fellow gave me much needed experience and allowed me to apply what I learned from my major in a real world environment. I loved working as a marketing and UX/UI intern for Hardly and would highly recommend the E+I Fellows program. The experience helped me grow both creatively and professionally.”
Students interested in participating in the Fellows Program should apply through the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation website by Sunday, Feb. 1 at 11:59 p.m.
