June 18, 2009 

HACU National Internship Program places nearly 450 students in federal and corporate paid internships

College and university students step into federal and corporate positions nationwide

San Antonio, TX - The HACU National Internship Program, the nation’s largest Hispanic internship program, continues to fulfill its mission of opening doors of opportunity as it placed nearly 450 students from colleges and universities nationwide in corporate and federal summer internships. The majority of federal interns are located in Washington, D.C., and others are in field offices across the nation. Some students will also intern at corporations throughout the United States. Download a list here.

 “During these tough economic times, internship opportunities for students are incredibly valuable,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio Flores. “The HACU National Internship Program provides students a chance to earn an income and also make professional connections for future corporate and federal employment.”

A 2007 survey found that nearly 40 percent of former interns from HACU’s National Internship Program now work in the federal government.

“The personal and career experiences gained during their internships allow these students to be more prepared to enter the professional world after graduation,” Flores said.

This was the case for the following six interns who were offered positions after completing their spring 2009 internships:

• Janet Mogollon of Universidad Del Turabo interned at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and was hired by the Smithsonian Institution.
• Millagros Ortiz of Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus interned and was hired by the Veterans Administration.
• Ricardo Soto of Florida International University interned and was hired by the United States Department of Agriculture.    
• Jennerfer Torres of University of Maryland University College interned and was hired by the DHHS-SAMHSA.        
• Alexis Novoa of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras interned at the DHHS-SAMHSA and was hired by the Department of Commerce.
• Maria Zieba of University of California, Riverside interned and was hired by the USDA.

About HACU

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) represents approximately 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The HACU National Internship Program has had more than 8,000 participants since its inception in 1992. Students intern at federal and corporate sites for a duration of ten or fifteen weeks and receive a stipend.  

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