By Julius Morris-Ramos & Dana Spychalla
Ascendium Education Group
Longtime Northside employer Ascendium Education Group has always been committed to leveling the playing field for students striving to achieve postsecondary and career success. To that end, this summer Ascendium is hosting four paid college interns through a partnership with AVID/TOPS (Advancement via Individual Determination/Teens of Promise).
AVID/TOPS is a multi-faceted college success program operated through a unique collaboration between the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County (BGC) and Madison Metropolitan School District. AVID, the classroom component of the program, is used in more than 3,000 middle and high schools nationwide. TOPS provides college success coaching and other support, including summer internships. Ascendium supports TOPS through grant funding and by hosting paid summer internships.
In the past, Ascendium’s TOPS interns have been high school students. This year, college students are receiving valuable real-world experience related to their major at the organization’s Madison office. The interns who joined Ascendium this year are Lupe Salmeron Ibarra, Noelia Pardo Patino, Julius Morris-Ramos and Paul Nwankwo.
“Our goal at BGC is to invest in our students and amplify their leadership potential,” said Alex Gagnon, BGC’s vice president of education. “We want students to test drive their career path, so it’s crucial to give them a head start.”
Support for these efforts fits perfectly with Ascendium’s commitment to removing obstacles so more learners from low-income backgrounds can achieve their academic and career goals. According to Ascendium Vice President for Education Philanthropy Amy Kerwin, an internship can make all the difference for a student in terms of career readiness. But not all students have the time or financial freedom to spend several months over the summer in an unpaid internship, essentially volunteering their time.
“We recognize that unpaid internships can contribute to the equity gap,” said Kerwin. “What can we do at Ascendium to level the playing field so students from all backgrounds can participate in internships? We can pay them for their good work.”
In addition to wages, Ascendium also provides its interns free bus passes, complimentary on-site lunch and valuable career guidance.
Gagnon believes the relationship between the two organizations provides a more supportive and varied educational experience for the students interning with Ascendium.
“Ascendium just gets it,” Gagnon said. “We share accountability for the success of the students.”