Calling All Students: The 2024 STEMworks Innovation Internship Program Application NOW OPEN!

The STEMworks Innovation Internship Program applications are now closed. If you are interested in a Summer 2025 internship and/or other work-based learning opportunities, email katie@medb.org.

Calling All Employers: Training the future STEM workforce!

Host Employers! Submit your host company application by May 15th here: https://bit.ly/STEMhost24

Do you have a STEM-based project that you want to complete, but don’t have the time, team member, or necessary skills to get it done? STEMworks™ is here to help you by matching your project with a talented, local high school student who will help you get the job done! The STEMworks team will work with you to develop and deliver a personalize work-based learning experience for our top STEM talent across the state. Our students are trained in computer science, coding, creative media production, website design, geospatial technologies including GIS, video game design, creation of augmented/virtual reality environments, robotics, 3D printing and design, CAD software, agricultural technologies, renewable energy technologies, healthcare and more.

Summer 2024 Program Highlights:

  • This annual internship program will run for six weeks from June 10th, 2024 - July 19th, 2024.

  • Interns will have the opportunity to use industry standard technologies to advance meaningful projects.

  • Interns are required to participate in weekly, expert-led professional development webinars organized by STEMworks to develop college preparatory and career readiness skills.

  • Interns will receive a $2,000 stipend upon successful completion of the 6-week program.

STEMworks™ Innovation Internship Program Schedule at a Glance:

  • Friday April 19th - Application Deadline

  • Friday May 3rd - Acceptance letters and placement matches will be emailed to the email address in the application

  • Thursday, May 23rd - STEMworks™ Internship Host Company Orientation held VIRTUALLY at 12:00PM

  • Friday, May 24th - STEMworks™ Internship Participant Orientation held VIRTUALLY 12:00PM 

  • Monday, June 10th - STEMworks™ Internship Begins! Interns - be sure you know where to be!

  • Each Week on Wednesdays - Weekly professional development sessions led by STEMworks™ (time to be announced).

  • Wednesday, July 24th - STEMworks™ Summer 2024 Innovation Internship Showcase held VIRTUALLY (time to be announced).

Student Eligibility:

Applications are open to participating STEMworks high school students (grades 9-12), and STEMworks alumni currently in college. High school students and college students who are not part of our STEMworks program may still apply, but are not guaranteed placement with an internship. All applicants must be a Hawaii-resident or attending a Hawaii-based school.

  • Submit a completed Internship Application Form including a resume with cover letter by Friday, April 19th, 2024

  • Must be available to up to 20-hours a week for six weeks during the summer + attend a 1.5 hour virtual professional development session.

  • Attend the STEMworks Internship Orientation (mandatory)

  • Commit to the time needed and prescribed by the host company/organization to complete the project(s) - this will usually be during working hours or 9-5 on Mondays - Fridays. Some internship placements may have evening or weekend hours.

  • Submit weekly timesheets and progress reports. These must be signed by your mentor.

  • Attend and present at the Annual STEMworks Internship Showcase (virtual meeting; mandatory)

  • Complete an internship post-assessment survey (mandatory)

  • Full program participation and attendance is required to receive the $2,000 stipend which is paid out at the end of internship.

Our partner companies are seeking interns for:

  • 3D Design & CAD

  • Architecture

  • Astronomy

  • Biomedical Technologies

  • Botany

  • Creative Media & Film Production

  • Conservation & Natural Resource Management

  • Data Collection and Processing

  • Engineering (aerospace, mechanical, electrical, civil)

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

  • Health Sector Assistants (Medical & Dental)

  • IT/Cybersecurity

  • Marine Science

  • Programming/AI

  • Veterinarian Assistant

  • Web design & Management

  • STEM Entrepreneurs

  • And more...

Questions? Contact Katie Taladay, katie@medb.org

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2022 Internship Recap: Mahalo to our 2022 Host Companies!

Blue Ocean Barns Bowers and Kubota DLNR State Historic Preservation Division Dudek Edge-3D, LLC Geolabs Inc Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory Hensel Phelps Kamanu Composites Last Wave Co Maui Mind Academy Meli Wraps NeuroMaker Pop-Up Labs for Sustainability Privateer Space qubedup Rengo Packaging The Avocado Group LLC UH Manoa SOEST UH Maui College University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy VisSidus Technologies, Inc. WAI ORG INC Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii

2021 Internship Recap:

One lesson I learned from this internship is that in order to persevere, we must have grit, and always remember our why. We do not have to know what we are going to do in the future. We just have to take it one step at a time, have an open mind to learn and grow, and be passionate about what we are doing.
— Jaelen Matsuda Williams

Program Highlights:

  • Our annual internship program returned to its normal, six-week duration from June 14th, 2021 - July 23rd, 2021

  • A record number of 48 interns had the opportunity to use industry standard technologies to advance meaningful projects for their host companies.

  • Three interns were hired by their host companies following the internship period

  • Six expert-led professional development provided participants with college preparatory and career readiness skills

  • 5500+ Hours of on the job work

  • 21 Host Companies including: The Avocado Group, Blue Planet Foundation, Bizgenics Foundation, Coral Reef Education Institute, Cropsticks Inc., Edge3D, Hawaii Afterschool Alliance, Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory, Hawaiian Humane Society, Institute for Astronomy, Kamanu Composites, Lanai Community Health Center, Livable Hawaii Kai Hui, Lynker Technologies, NeuroMaker Brain Co., NOAA Fisheries, PONOinfusions, Pop-Up Labs for Sustainability (PULS), Reasonability/Qubedup, VisSidus Technologies, Waste Water Alternatives & Innovation (WAI), and Weedsteam Hawaii.

Summer 2021 Internship Sectors:

  • 3D Design & CAD

  • 3D Imaging & Image Analysis

  • Aerospace Engineering

  • AI Algorithm Development

  • Architecture

  • Assistive Technologies

  • Astronomy

  • Biomedical Technologies

  • Botany

  • Chemical Engineering

  • Creative Media & Film Production

  • Conservation & Natural Resource Management

  • Dentistry

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

  • Healthcare

  • Marine Science

  • Mechanical Engineering

  • Neuroscience

  • Water Science

  • Web design & Management

  • Social Media Marketing

  • STEM Education

  • Sustainability

  • Weekly professional development sessions led by STEMworks™ WEDNESDAYS at 2:00PM (see schedule below)

Summer 2021 Intern PD 1.jpg

Wednesdays @ 2PM

PD Links will be emailed to you each week. We will be using a combination of Zoom meetings and Nepris-based Industry Talks


Under STEMworks™ Internship Program, students (grades 9 thru college) have a unique opportunity to explore technical and professional development, and gain confidence in their ability to be a STEM professional. Much effort is placed on connecting the dots between STEMworks™ curriculum, software tools available in the classroom, and real world applications. It’s a win-win where young STEM and agriculture students gain valuable on-the-job skills while being able to network with industry professionals.

MEDB’s STEMworks™ Summer Internship program is an incredibly valuable resource for our youth, especially as our island is growing and working towards becoming sustainable.
— Maria Leon, Program Assistant, The Maui Farm

2020 Internship Recap:

Following a fast pivot to a virtual environment, the STEMworks 2020 summer internship program operated 100% virtually for 4-weeks instead of the standard 6-week. Despite challenges brought on by COVID-19, we were able to host a record number of 43 interns from across the state!

Program Highlights

  • This annual internship program was held for 4-weeks from June 24th - July 29th, 2020

  • Weekly professional development included lessons on personal branding, time management, cultivating life-long learning skills, resume writing, financial literacy, and more.

  • 43 interns participated in diverse STEM internships projects across the state!

Click on the internship booklet image to view our 2020 program.

We learned that not only can internships work virtually, they can thrive! :)


2019 Internship Recap:

 
 
This program is of great importance to the young and upcoming STEM professionals of tomorrow. When I was in high school no one showed me how the complicated concepts in physics and mathematics could have a meaningful effect on my career path and daily life.
— Kevin Clarke, Principal Surveyor at GBI and mentor

STEMworks™ Stories

At Creative Island Visions, STEMworks™ Intern, Axl Daguio puts his videography and photography skills to the test as he captures the moment with his mentor Cassie Pali.

Returning STEMworks™ Intern Sophia Davis teams up with Christine Davis and mentor Ron Viloria, founder of qubedup. Integrating fashion with technology and storytelling, Sophia uses her 3D modeling skills to create projects that have the potential to make a difference in the community.


STEMworks™ Interns Cameron Loewen and Seth Richards share their experience at Goodfellow Bros., Inc. where they utilize software such as AutoCAD and Civil 3D to contribute to the company's pre-construction projects.

At A&B Properties, STEMworks™ Interns Chris Furomoto and Aidan Griffin are utilizing CAD, ArcGIS, and Civil3D for their various projects with the company.


STEMworks™ intern, Courtney Tagay, is helping Maui Innovation Center create videos that showcase the graduates of the accelerator program by highlighting the graduates’ journey and challenges with their local businesses!

STEMworks™ Intern Christine Alonzo shares her digital media skills as she stirs up promotional videos for Da Kitchen's social media pages.

What I love about the STEMworks™ internship program is I got to wear many hats. I learned to do code, blog, graphic design, model CAD, and product design. It helped me become a better problem solver and it gave me opportunities to learn about various STEM careers. I now plan to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering.
— Sophia, Kihei Charter School graduate

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