Houston, TX—July 31, 2025 – Genesys Works, a national career readiness program that creates pathways to economic mobility for students in underserved communities, is celebrating National Intern Day to recognize the impact of high school interns at leading companies across the country.
“Our Genesys Works intern has been with us for 3 years,” said Annie Hsu, an Executive Director in Operations at Mizuho. “When she came on board as a high school senior, we provided her with additional training and then gave her assignments — actual, real-work assignments that contributed to our team’s deliverables and helped her develop critical skills. Now, she has a key role with specific functional responsibilities on a high volume regulatory operations team and is beloved by her teammates who consider her integral to the organization’s ongoing success.”
Rising high school seniors first complete 160 hours of technical and professional skills training over the summer, then earn paid internships at companies like Mizuho, Land O’Lakes, JPMorgan Chase, 3M, Medtronic and Okta. Because the program is a full year, students can learn on the job and then go on to do meaningful, productive work during their internship, filling existing roles.
“Companies invest in our talent because they are continually surprised and delighted by the level of work that our interns can accomplish as high school seniors,” said Jeffrey Artis, Genesys Works President and CEO. “Our program allows them to invest in the talent that’s in their communities and be part of a transformative experience for local young adults. For more than 20 years, we’ve helped hundreds of companies make an enduring impact on their businesses and on the lives of students, supporting more than 11,000 young people in achieving career success and economic mobility.”
One intern who exemplifies Genesys Works’ long-term impact is Sameen Hanan, who graduated from Virginia Tech this spring and has been hired by PwC as a cyber security consultant. A first-generation college student, Sameen had limited access to career guidance and decided to enroll in Genesys Works. The program placed her in a paid, 20hr/week internship at Kratos Defense & Security Solutions during her senior year of high school.
Sameen credits Genesys Works with accelerating her career development and providing her with the guidance to earn a scholarship to Virginia Tech as well as continue to pursue internship opportunities — with her initial internship opening the door to internships at ten different companies throughout college, including at PwC last summer.
Another intern, Jacob Richter, was unsure of his future while in high school. He quit hockey and worked as a dishwasher and line cook to save money. His trajectory changed when he applied to Genesys Works, where he earned an internship at 3M. He handled various projects, including a SharePoint migration for 10,000 employees. While attending the University of Minnesota, he earned an internship at Medtronic and then interned at the United States Senate in the office of Senator Amy Klobuchar. Jacob now plans to attend law school. He sums up his Genesys Works experience in one word, “opportunity.”
Ninety percent of Genesys Works participants enroll in college, and seven years after high school, alumni earn a median annual income of $70,000 and are three times more likely than their peers to have a bachelor’s degree. Seventy-five percent of alumni outearn at least one parent. This summer, Genesys Works is launching its newest site in Jacksonville, Florida, expanding its reach and creating new opportunities for students and employers in the region.
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About Genesys Works
Genesys Works provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities. Our program consists of 8 weeks of technical and professional skills training, paid year-long corporate internships, college and career coaching, and long-term alumni support to move individuals out of economic inequality and into professional careers. Founded in 2002, Genesys Works now serves thousands of students annually in Houston, Chicago, Jacksonville, Minneapolis/St. Paul, the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington’s National Capital Region, New York City, and Tulsa. To learn more, visit genesysworks.org.
Contact
Mona L. Tolbert
832.409.8006
mtolbert@genesysworks.org
