Austin Peay State University

During the summer, the Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Development Board leveraged YEP funding to support a first-of-its-kind Summer Internship Program. Workforce Essentials, serving as Northern Middle’s subcontractor, partnered with Austin Peay State University’s Career Success Center to place 11 students in 10-week, paid internships with eight local employers across Montgomery County.

Students received real-world experience in fields such as marketing, IT, finance, business operations, customer service, and nonprofit work. Several participants obtained professional certifications, including a Property & Casualty insurance license, while others contributed to meaningful community and operational projects. Employers benefited from project support and mentoring opportunities.

“This has been a wonderful way for students to gain hands-on experiences, gain new skills, and connect with employers for future opportunities,”

said Lashae Whitley, CEO of We Notarize Nationwide Notary Services.

Another standout moment came from APSU senior Joshua Martin, who interned at Trane. He shared,

“This internship opportunity allowed me to network with other organizations. We went on site visits every Friday, and I was able to develop four job opportunities postgraduation with Trane, CDE Lightband, Hankook, and Nyrstar.”