**MEDIA ADVISORY**
For Planning Purposes
Friday, August 16
SkillsRI Celebrates Successful Summer Internship Program with PrepareRI Graduation Celebration
Public school students from around RI took part in innovative paid internships featuring region’s top employers
PROVIDENCE, RI – On Friday, August 16, Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI), the state’s leading non-profit workforce intermediary, is celebrating the eighth successful summer of the PrepareRI high school internship program with a graduation celebration. This year, 347 students were placed in internships across 94 participating employers across Rhode Island. The speaking program will feature keynote remarks from Patrice N. Jean-Philippe of PNJ Consulting as well as 2024 PrepareRI intern, Adrian Serrano. The ceremony includes the second annual “PrepareRI Employer Awards,” presented to partner organizations who have gone above and beyond for their interns.
WHO
The speaking program will include remarks from:
- The Honorable Jack Reed, U.S. Senator, State of Rhode Island
- Jack R Warner PHD, President, Rhode Island College
- Matt Weldon, Director, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Nina Pande, Executive Director, SkillsRI
- Adrian Serrano, PrepareRI Intern, Rhode Island College
- Keynote Speaker: Patrice N. Jean-Philippe, PNJ Consulting
WHAT
2024 PrepareRI Summer Internship Graduation
WHERE
Roberts Hall – Rhode Island College, 600 Mt Pleasant Ave, Providence, RI 02908
WHEN
Friday, August 16, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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Media Contact (For SkillsRI)
Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Group
401.286.9037 | chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com
SkillsRI Celebrates Successful Summer Internship Program with PrepareRI Graduation Celebration
Eighth annual ceremony highlights more than 300 public school students who took part in innovative program
PROVIDENCE, RI- Today, Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI), the state’s leading non-profit workforce intermediary, honored the 2024 graduates of the PrepareRI high school internship program with a community celebration. The ceremony, which took place at Rhode Island College, featured friends, family, and community leaders from around Rhode Island including U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Director of the Department of Labor and Training, Matt Weldon, and the President of RIC, Jack Warner. This year, 347 students were placed in internships across 94 participating employers including Citizens Bank, Care New England, Amica Mutual Insurance Company, and Lifespan.
“It’s been an honor to watch this extraordinary group of young people grow and develop over the course of this summer,” said Nina Pande, Executive Director of SkillsRI. “This unique opportunity truly helps our students cultivate the necessary skills to thrive in today’s evolving workforce. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our incredible partners who have welcomed our students with open arms. Congratulations to the class of 2024!”
PrepareRI is a statewide initiative designed to improve youth career readiness and prepare young people with the skills they need for high-demand, high paying jobs. PrepareRI is a strategic partnership between the Rhode Island government, private industry leaders, the public education system, universities, and nonprofits across the state.
“I’m honored to join SkillsRI to celebrate the PrepareRI class of 2024,” said Senator Reed. “This tremendous program is helping to prepare young Rhode Islanders to enter the workforce with a better understanding of what interests them for a future career and helps them develop in-demand skills to meet the needs of employers.”
Today’s program was highlighted by keynote remarks from Patrice Jean-Philippe, who currently leads PNJ Consulting, as well as 2024 PrepareRI Intern Adrian Serrano, a student at Charette Charter High School who completed internships this summer with Rhode Island College and Electric Boat.
“This internship has been an incredible experience, providing invaluable hands-on learning that will undoubtedly prepare me for a successful future,” said Adrian Serrano, 2024 PrepareRI Intern and keynote speaker. “The skills and knowledge I’ve gained here have set a solid foundation for my career, and I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned in real-world situations.”
Today’s ceremony also featured the second annual “PrepareRI Employer Awards,” presented to partner organizations and individuals who have gone above and beyond for their interns. This year’s recipients include the RI Judiciary, RIC & Electric Boat, Shanna Ferguson of Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Trinity Repertory Company, Teatro ECAS, and the RI Department of Business Regulation.
The PrepareRI Internship Program was designed and piloted in the summer of 2017 by Skills for Rhode Island’s Future with funding from the Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board (GWB). SkillsRI continues to operate the PrepareRI Internship Program, and to date, have placed over 2,400 students in paid internships with over 300 employer partners.
About PrepareRI
PrepareRI is a statewide initiative designed to prepare Rhode Island students with the skills they need for jobs that pay. The PrepareRI Internship Program provides high school students opportunities to explore careers via workplace learning experiences through paid summer internships. This program represents a strategic partnership between the Rhode Island government, private industry, the public education system, universities, and nonprofits across the state. For more information, click here.
About Skills for Rhode Island’s Future
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future (SkillsRI) is a nonprofit workforce intermediary dedicated to building strong and diverse talent pipelines for Rhode Island businesses. SkillsRI works with socially responsible, civic-minded employers, helping design, manage and deliver talent solutions aimed at closing skill gaps, developing inclusive hiring practices, improving business outcomes and growth, all while helping Rhode Islanders find jobs and career opportunities.
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Media Contact (For SkillsRI)
Chelsea DeCesare, Half Street Group
401.286.9037 | chelsea@halfstreetgroup.com
