SYRACUSE — Conexus Indiana’s innovative Conexus Interns Program posted dramatic growth in its second year, reaching 230 Indiana high school students interning at 79 Indiana companies, a 170 percent increase over its successful 2015 pilot year. In Kosciusko County, Poly-Wood LLC participated in the program, hosting 1 high school student.

“The Conexus Interns Program helps students transition from their high school experience to the workforce,” said Tracey Everett, Conexus Interns Program manager. “The 6-week summer internships include real-world work experience at an advanced manufacturing or logistics company and group activities that introduce students to career and postsecondary education opportunities.”

Conexus Indiana launched the Conexus Interns Program in 2015 in a 21-county Central Indiana region. Based on the success of that pilot year, Conexus Indiana expanded its program in 2016 to include students and companies throughout the state.

The Conexus Interns Program was designed with the help of industry partners and matches students with a paid internship at a nearby advanced manufacturing or logistics company. The work experience is hands-on and often includes opportunities for students to work closely with company employees to gain an understanding and appreciation of the high-tech and challenging opportunities available in Indiana’s largest industry sector.

Results to date have underscored the impact of the Conexus Interns Program, Everett said. Eighty percent of the 2016 Conexus Interns Program students said their internship changed their perceptions of advanced manufacturing and logistics and that they were more likely to pursue a career in that field. Sixty-two percent of the students said the experience impacted their post-high school plans, and 95 percent found the experience valuable.

The program also provides participating companies access to the most promising high school students and opportunities to begin to build their future workforce.

Conexus Interns is funded by Lilly Endowment, Skill UP, Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT) and Chase.

Students and employers interested in exploring opportunities for the 2017 program can find more information online.