Recognizes BJC HealthCare for support
St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP), the local non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school students with financial needs achieve academic and professional success, recently honored its 16th graduating class.
A total of 87 St. Louis Public School high school sophomores and juniors were recognized for completing the program, along with BJC HealthCare for its long-time support.
Throughout the eight-month-long program, SLIP students learned how to dress for success, write a resume, interview and communicate more effectively. They also received employment prep training and completed an eight-week paid summer internship with some of the region’s most significant employers.
“It’s an honor to celebrate this accomplishment with our students,” said Shanise Johnson, director of the St. Louis Internship Program.
“Not only have they demonstrated the spirit of determination and optimism, but also have shown that they have what it takes to be tomorrow’s leaders and role models.”
Family and friends of the students, along with SLIP board members, volunteers, companies for whom the students worked and other program supporters, attended the commencement celebration.
In addition, each year SLIP honors a local company that has been instrumental in helping the nonprofit fulfill its mission. This year SLIP honored BJC HealthCare, which has employed nearly 60 SLIP interns since 1996.
The mission of the St. Louis Internship Program is to provide hope, support, assistance and inspiration to high school students by helping them develop life skills necessary to expand educational and employment opportunities. The program also assists with planning and financing post-secondary career goals.
Since its inception in 1992, more than 2,700 area students have completed the SLIP program, with more than 95 percent of the interns graduating high school and going on to college or other post-secondary training programs. See www.stlouisinternship.org.
