Summer Internship Program

The Summer Internship Program, offered by the Career Success Center in partnership with Workforce Essentials, is a 10-week paid summer immersive experience for rising juniors and seniors at Austin Peay State University (APSU) to receive meaningful, hands-on opportunities in local economic development, business innovation, and community-focused initiatives. Interns are placed within the Clarksville-Montgomery County region.

For Students | Application Process

2026 Student Application Window: March 6-March 25 (subject to change).

Interested full-time rising juniors and seniors should demonstrate their commitment by submitting an application that highlights their alignment with the program’s goals and participating employer offerings. Successful applicants should showcase a strong interest in gaining hands-on career experience within Montgomery County, a passion for community engagement, and a collaborative mindset.

Information Sessions

Govs, to learn more about the program, we invite you to join the Career Success Center for a live information session on the following dates: Register and check out the details for the upcoming sessions on Govs Connect.

• Tuesday, March 17 at 1-2 pm (MUC 303): Register on Govs Connect

• Monday, March 23 at 9-10 am (Virtual/Zoom): Register on Govs Connect

Program Eligibility

The APSU Summer Internship Program is open to undergraduate students who are eager to gain real-world experience while contributing to the economic and community development of Montgomery County.

To be considered, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be enrolled as a full-time APSU student during the Spring 2026 semester. Spring 2026 graduates are not eligible.

• Rising junior or senior status.

• Minimum GPA of 2.75. 

• Demonstrate interest in community engagement, leadership, or economic development.

• 18-24 years old (due to grant funding).

Application Checklist

1. Prepare Your Application Materials

   • Resume: Highlight your educational background, work experience, skills, and relevant accomplishments.

   • Cover Letter/Letter of Interest: Write a compelling letter that explains your interest in the internship program and how your background aligns with the goals of our community initiatives. Provide a brief statement outlining your passion for community engagement, leadership, or economic development, as well as what you hope to gain from the internship experience. State your top three internship site options.

   • For assistance with your application materials, make an appointment with one of your career success coaches.

2. Submit Your Application
   

   • Visit Handshake to register or activate your account.

   • Questions about how to access your account? Check out our Handshake Information page.

   • Preview the job description and application link. 

   • Submit your application materials for the Summer 2026 cohort via Handshake by March 25, 2026.

3. Interview Process (If Selected)
   

   • Selected students will participate in final interviews with representatives from Career Success, Workforce Development, and Workforce Essentials to determine which internship opportunities are the best fit based on their interests and skill sets.

Apply Here

Tips for a Strong Application

Read About the Program & Student Eligibility

• Before applying, make sure you read more about the program, the eligibility for the program, and the timeline provided at the end of this webpage.

• Students must be available between June 1-August 7, 2026 to participate in the program.

  • Week 1: Orientation/Kickoff Week

  • Weeks 2-9: Students work at their internship sites full-time between Monday-Thursday and Fridays they are on campus for career programming, professional development, and employer site visits.

  • Week 10: Closing Activities and Celebration

• If you have questions about your eligibility or program details, reach out to summer_internship@apsu.edu. 

Review and Research Internship Site Options

• Carefully review all employer offerings to understand the projects, expectations, and required skills.

• Select your top three choices based on your interests, qualifications, and career goals and prepare your materials with those choices in mind.

Tailor Your Resume

• Highlight relevant experiences, skills, and leadership roles that align with the program’s focus.

• Use clear, action-oriented bullet points to describe accomplishments.

• Clearly list your GPA, degree, major, and expected graduation month/year.

• Check out our resume writing tools for more tips.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter/Letter of Interest

• Clearly state why you are interested in the program and how it aligns with your goals.

• Explain why you selected your top three internship sites and how they align with your aspirations and goals.

• Highlight your qualifications and skills and how they align with the program and chosen sites. 

• Showcase your passion for community engagement, leadership, or economic development. 

• Salutation: You can address the letter to the Summer Internship Program Leads.

• Check out our Cover Letter Tip Sheet on our Resume Writing Tools page.

Proofread and Review

• Double-check your materials for clarity, completeness, and grammar.

• Seek feedback from a mentor, professor, or the Career Success Center career coaching team.

For Employers | Application Process

Note: Application is currently closed.

By participating in this program, employers gain access to a pipeline of skilled student interns eager to contribute meaningfully to their organizations while developing critical workplace competencies.

Employer Requirements

The primary aim of our internship program is to equip students with hands-on experience in their fields of interest while contributing to local businesses and community initiatives. Employers will be expected to: 

• Define project(s), set clear expectations, and provide opportunities for skill development.

• Provide structured, supportive, and meaningful internship experience.

• Fund intern(s) at $6,000.00 subsidized amount.

• Designate a preceptor to mentor, supervise, and develop intern(s).

• Participate in program onboarding and closing activities.

By submitting this application, an employer agrees to provide a structured, supportive, and impactful internship experience for selected students.

Financial Commitment

To foster a sustainable local talent pipeline, participating organizations are invited to contribute a financial commitment of $10,000. Thanks to a generous donation from Workforce Essentials, this fee has been adjusted to only $6,000, making it more accessible for businesses looking to engage with APSU students while promoting organizational visibility.

The $6,000.00 subsidized program commitment covers:

• Student Intern Compensation

• Summer Campus Housing (for APSU students)

• Programming Costs, including Transportation, Programming meals, Marketing and Communications, etc.

• Student Intern Recruitment, Placement, and Program Administration

Program Benefits for Employers

• Talent pipeline​

• New perspectives and skills​

• Brand awareness​

• Strong partnership with APSU

• Registration Waiver for APSU Job & Internship Fair

2026 Program Timeline

**Dates are subject to change.**

• December 8: Employer Information Session and Launch

• December 8-January 11: Employer Application Window

  • Deadline extended to January 30

• January 12-15: Employer Selections & Notifications

  • Date extended to February 16-20

• March 6-25: Student Application Window

• April 6-10: Student Finalist Interviews

• April 13-17: Interns Selections & Placement Notifications 

• May 4 - 15: Program Onboarding Period for Employers

• June 1-5: Internship Program Begins/Kickoff Week

• June 8-August 3: First and Last Day at Internship Sites

• August 4-6: Closing Activities
  

• August 7: Internship Program Ends