“Connect to Careers” grant provided funding for internship experiences
Ten students who are seeking Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees were able to complete unpaid internship experiences during Fall Semester 2025 while also earning stipends, thanks to a “Connect to Careers” grant from the John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Charitable Trusts.
In November 2025, the grant-funded students shared their internship activities and described their professional growth at a poster presentation attended by many members of the College community.
Students spent the semester applying classroom knowledge to real world challenges in various settings. Co-op Coordinators Jayne Martin Dressing and Eimee Donbar provided oversight for the students’ experiences.
Professor Martin said, “Like every program at Cincinnati State, students in Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs complete experiential learning as a degree requirement, often balancing their internship with other coursework, full-time or part-time work, and family responsibilities.”
“Many of the most meaningful experiences for these students are unpaid internships with non-profit or civic organizations, or opportunities to conduct unpaid research,” Martin added. “This grant helped to offset costs associated with accepting an unpaid internship, and made it possible for students to take on work-integrated learning and prepare to start four-year degree studies or enter the workforce with more skills, contacts, and resume-building experiences.”
Sayanna Jones, an Associate of Arts student focusing on Criminal Justice, served as an intern at the Hamilton County Courts’ Probation Office. Sayanna said, “Through this experience, I’ve gained insight into the daily lives of people from diverse backgrounds, while also learning how to stay organized, manage cases, document professionally, and communicate clearly with clients and with other professionals.”
Justice Vanatta, who is earning an Associate of Science degree, worked with the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Chemistry, “This internship helped me gain my first undergraduate research experience,” Justice said. “I worked with a graduate student and learned how to document and present research, which will help me as I prepare to transfer to UC for additional studies and when I apply to medical schools.”
Martin said Connect to Careers funds will be available to support students during the 2026 Spring and Summer semesters. For more information, contact her at jayne.dressing@cincinnatistate.edu.
