Thunderbird Extern & Intern Programs

Thunderbird Externship Program: Career Pathway Exploration & Job Shadowing

For more information,  contact Mr. Brian Gregson, Externship Coordinator at bgregson@mahwah.k12.nj.us or 201-762-2315

The MHS Thunderbird Externship Program: Career Pathway Exploration & Job Shadowing is an opportunity for rising juniors (grade 11) and rising seniors (grade 12) to gain real-world work experience.  This program is available to students in good academic standing who are on-track with their educational plan. 

The program empowers students to take ownership of their education by pursuing an externship in a special area of interest.  Participants will expand their learning experience by participating in an authentic real life career shadowing and exploration experience with a professional in the community.

The externship program is scheduled to run for several days over the course of 1-2 weeks during the summer in the months of July - August 4th. 

Externship Documents

Externships and Internships

Description of externships and internship program opportunities available to all students in Rising Grade 11 and Rising Grade 12.

Thunderbird Externship Program: Career Pathway Exploration & Job Shadowing Description

Program description

Student Externship Checklist

Checklist of steps needed to earn credit and pathway endorsement.

How to locate an externship position

Process for a student to locate a mentor/externship 

Sample Student Email Requesting Externship

Sample student email requesting externship experience.

Mentor Letter

Introductory letter for potential mentors explaining the career shadowing externship program.

Mentors Partnership in Education Resource Catalog

Thunderbird Partnership Jobs in Action Mentors in Education Resource List by career pathway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about the program

Resource- NJ Career Ready Practices

Career Ready Practices describe the career-ready skills that all educators in all content areas should seek to  develop in their students. They are practices that have been linked to increased college, career, and life success.

Externship Resource Links

Resource: Career Readiness, Life Literacies & Key Skills

The 2020 New Jersey Student Learning Standards — Career Readiness, Life Literacies, and Key Skills (NJSLS-CLKS) provides the framework for students to learn the concepts, skills, and practices essential to the successful navigation of career exploration and preparation, personal finances and digital literacy.

Resource: NJ Next Stop

NJ Next Stop is a state site sponsored to help NJ teens, parents, and counselors learn more about career interests, career options, and the world of work.  It also provides information about industries, occupations and skills that are in demand in New Jersey. 

Thunderbird Internship Program: Career & Academic Internships (Work-based Learning Experience)

For more information, contact Ms. Estania Noel, Work-based Learning Coordinator at enoel@mahwah.k12.nj.us or by telephone at 201-762-2300 ext. 7252. Fax: 201-512-0949

Our Career & Academic Internship program is designed for all rising high school seniors in summer and Grade 12 seniors during the school year who are in good academic standing, on track for meeting graduation requirements, and have passed the state assessment requirement. Students may earn up to 20 elective credits each year through an approved career & academic internship experience in an area of career interest. Students are required to maintain and submit a portfolio/journal and complete a capstone project to demonstrate that they have met the goals and objectives of the experience. 

Summer Career & Academic Internships (Work-based Learning) provide rising seniors with hands-on authentic workplace experiences over the course of 4-5 weeks during the summer. Internship experience can be paid or unpaid.

The Thunderbird Internship Program: Career & Academic Internships Program is designed for all learners.

Qualifying high school seniors may elect to participate in the Career and Academic Internships Program. These experiences are structured, supervised activities that may take place in a workplace or agency or a non-profit community organization. Work-based learning experiences are designed to give students structured, supervised activities that will assist them to clarify career goals, explore career possibilities, develop employable skills, or make the transition between school and employment or further education and training.

Career and academic internship experiences are experiential, supervised educational activities designed to provide students with exposure to the requirements and responsibilities of specific job titles or job groups, and to assist them in gaining employment skills and making career and educational decisions. A work-based learning experience may be either paid or unpaid, depending on the type of activities in which the student is involved. All work-based learning experiences must adhere to applicable state and federal child labor laws and other rules of the State Departments of Education and Labor. Career and academic internships experiences may include, but are not limited to: apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing, cooperative education, school-based enterprises, volunteer activities, vocational student organizations, and Work Experience Career Exploration Program (WECEP)

Participation in the Career and Academic Internship Program

The Career and Academic Internship Program can be designed for any type of student; five examples are as follows:

• A student who has not selected a career path to gain first-hand experience in a variety of employment areas to assist him/her in making employment decisions or selecting a major in college.
• An engineering student to design and execute a “master project” under the guidance of a professional engineer at an engineering firm.
• A student who wants to become a research scientist to assist a researcher in a pharmaceutical or university research laboratory.
• A student who wishes to learn about career ladders within a particular career pathway
• A student who wishes to volunteer in our school district, in a community organization, or in the community to develop leadership skills, learn the value of community service, or the benefits of corporate investment in a community.

Internship Forms

Summary Description of Career and Academic Internships

Summary Description of Thunderbird Internship Program: Career and Academic Internships

NJ Business/Agency Agreement For All UNPAID Work-based Learning

NJ Business/Agency Agreement For All Unpaid WBL, including Volunteer, Community Service, & Service Learning (Non-Hazardous)

NJ Business/Agency Agreement For All PAID Work-based Learning (Non-Hazardous)

NJ Business/Agency Agreement For All Paid WBL (Non-Hazardous)

NJ Work-based Learning Program Student Training Plan

For All Work-based Learning Program Experiences- Paid/Unpaid Internships, Volunteer, Community Service, Service Learning and School-Based Enterprise

Internship Program Application for early dismissal

Parental/guardian consent for an early dismissal specifically for school year internship

Application For Thunderbird Externship Internship Program

Application for summer externship and internship program