Every Elevate+ internship begins with an opportunity. By the end of the summer, that opportunity has often become something much more: greater confidence, practical skills, meaningful professional relationships, and work that makes a lasting difference.
Feedback from our 2026 interns and host mentors confirms just how much was accomplished this summer. Thirty-four students completed our end-of-internship survey, while host organizations submitted 26 evaluations of their interns. Their responses tell a shared story of students rising to new challenges and nonprofit partners gaining talented, committed members of their teams.
Students left more prepared for what comes next
- 94% rated their overall internship experience as excellent or good.
- 94% said the internship contributed substantially to their professional growth.
- 94% felt more confident entering the workforce.
- 91% felt more prepared for future internships or full-time employment.
- 94% expanded their professional networks.
- 97% felt welcomed and included at their internship sites.
- 97% rated their likelihood of recommending Elevate+ to another student an 8 or higher on a 10-point scale.
Behind those numbers are students who discovered new strengths, clarified their career goals, and learned how to contribute in professional settings.
“I don’t think that I would be half the adult I am today without the help of Elevate+ and Lyman Allyn,” Meggan shared after completing her third summer at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum. “I’ve become so much more confident and a way better communicator than I used to be.”
Kamryn described the pride she felt in producing work with lasting value: “Developing three major deliverables that will continue to benefit the organization is something I’m incredibly proud of, and it showed me the impact thoughtful work can have.”
For Danny, the experience helped bring his future into clearer focus. “I can’t even describe how much this has helped me in figuring out and solidifying what I want to do in the future,” he wrote.
Other interns spoke about becoming more comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, taking initiative, setting boundaries, and trying unfamiliar things. Ritha reflected on one of the summer’s most important lessons: “Now, thanks to my internship, I know how to take initiative, work independently, learn, and be a leader, even when I make mistakes.”
Professional development extended the learning
An Elevate+ internship is more than a placement. Throughout the summer, students participated in job-readiness training, masterclasses, Role Model Conversations, peer check-ins, and networking events designed to complement their workplace experience.
Eighty-five percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that these professional development sessions enhanced their internships. All who attended these sessions saif they were valuable, especially the opportunities to practice networking, strengthen their LinkedIn profiles, hear directly from recruiters, and learn from professionals whose career journeys were not always linear.
One first-generation college student explained the difference that this additional support made:
“By participating in the Elevate+ workshops, I feel like I learned a lot of important information that will help me achieve my career goals in the future. For example, I learned about LinkedIn, resumes, and networking. Those are all very important, and I am so grateful that I was able to participate in these workshops.”
Another student said the sessions provided “guidance I can genuinely carry with me,” adding, “I left each session with something practical to apply.”
Host organizations saw exceptional performance and growth
The enthusiasm was equally strong among the professionals who supervised and mentored Elevate+ interns.
Sixty-nine percent of host evaluations rated an intern’s performance as “excellent,” meaning the student vastly exceeded expectations. Another 27% said the intern’s performance was on par with or better than expectations.
Mentors reported particularly strong growth in communication, teamwork, professionalism, critical thinking, and initiative. They also described interns expanding organizational capacity through substantive projects involving research, data analysis, communications, fundraising, education, community outreach, program delivery, and operational improvements.
At SixDegrees.org, Kamryn developed budgeting tools and analyzed reporting practices to identify trends and recommendations. Her mentor wrote that Kamryn was “far beyond her years in work ethic, professionalism, and initiative” and created tools the organization could use for years to come.
At All The Way Up Adult Education Center, Joyce managed social media, helped revamp the volunteer tutor training curriculum, organized training materials, and created instructional videos. Her mentor called it “perhaps one of our very best” summers with Elevate+.
At The Partnership for West Side High School, Amori supported programming, grant writing, board relations, and the supervision of high school interns. One of her mentors described her as “the best intern I have ever had the privilege of working with.”
These examples capture the dual impact at the heart of Elevate+: students gain access to formative paid work experiences, while mission-driven organizations receive capable, energetic support that advances their work.
Partnerships that continue to grow
Among the host representatives who completed the program-level survey:
- 96% were satisfied or very satisfied with their Elevate+ partnership and would like to host and Elevate+ intern again.
- Every respondent said they would definitely recommend partnering with Elevate+ to another organization.
One longtime partner summed it up simply: “This program seems to get better every year. Elevate+ has done an amazing job dialing in things that are important for hosts and interns.”
We are deeply grateful to the students who brought their talent, curiosity, and determination to each assignment; to the mentors who offered guidance, encouragement, and honest feedback; and to the donors and partners who made these paid opportunities possible.
The summer may have ended, but its impact has not. Students are returning to school and moving forward in their careers with new skills, stronger networks, and greater confidence. Host organizations are carrying forward the projects, tools, ideas, and additional capacity their interns helped create.
That is what happens when potential meets opportunity.
