WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – A new initiative in Wayne County is working to connect high school students with local employers through internships and work-based learning opportunities to build a stronger workforce.

The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce recently launched the Student Future Success initiative, a program designed to streamline how students find and apply for hands-on career experiences.

The program comes as Indiana schools adapt to new state graduation requirements, which include work-based learning hours tied to diploma seals. The Chamber developed the SFS model to unify various internship programs, job shadows, and cadet programs under a single system.

“Student Future Success is the way we are bringing job opportunities for work-based learning and internships into the high schools,” said Shawntel Baker, Director of Employer Engagement. Baker is the point of contact for both the schools and employers. “The students had to work so many hours to graduate with those seals.”

 To manage those opportunities, the chamber created a centralized online portal where employers can post opportunities and students can apply. This houses everything that falls under work-based learning internships.

Image source: Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce

“The portal is where we’re housing all job opportunities,” Baker said. “The employers will be able to log in, they create a profile and they list what opportunities they have.”

Students can then create profiles, submit applications, apply for positions, and connect directly with employers for interviews. The initiative officially launched March 9 and is already seeing participation across Wayne County Schools.

“Right now, we currently have 31 employers on the portal with over 105 opportunities where we do have students that are now reviewing and are applying and we do have interviews being set up as we speak,” Baker said.

More than 700 students are currently in the system, representing six high schools across the county. In the school systems, Baker works alongside school coordinators to help students pursue their areas of interest.

Baker said the system addresses previous challenges for employers who were often contacted by multiple schools for the same positions.

“It’s a streamline process now. The employers go in and do their part. The students go in and do their part,” Baker said.

Chamber leaders say the program is designed to support, not replace, existing internship efforts.

“We’re not trying to come in and take over if they already have an internship program already going on within their business,” said Alexis Harmon, Marketing & Communications Specialist with the Chamber. “Our goal is to get in there and say hey, let us help you find your students. Let us help you filter students who are going to be the best fit for you.”

Baker said SFS aims to also encourage students to stay or return to Wayne County after graduation. She added that highlighting industries ranging from healthcare to small businesses helps both students and parents understand what career paths and opportunities are available.

“Many of the jobs they’re interested in are here,” Baker said. “Students only know what they know. And many students only know what their parents do…what better way to showcase what we have available in Wayne County?”

Early feedback from employers has been positive. Baker said the Chamber plans to expand participation gradually, while refining the program based on feedback.

“I would say we’ve heard from employers, it’s so nice to have one singular spot where student information is coming from rather than multiple schools reaching out for the same position,” Harmon said.

For more information about the program, visit WCAreaChamber.org and select the SFS page under the Communities Tab.