The Job Shadow Application Portal Is Now Open!

The portal 1 job shadow application window for the 2026 – ’27 school year is now open. Job shadowing allows students to explore careers of interest, network, and connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities. Both in-person and virtual opportunities are available.

Check out our broad array of shadow opportunities; there are over 125 different career exploration days and 93 specific careers to choose from.

Job shadow opportunities are open to 10th through 12th grade students. Portal 1 closes Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. Transportation is the student’s or guardian’s responsibility. Check with your school counselor for additional details.

Celebrating Rochelle Sowers and 15 Years of Impact

After 15 years with Workplace Learning Connection, Internship Coordinator Rochelle Sowers is retiring, leaving behind a lasting legacy of service, partnership, and student success.

Rochelle joined WLC in August 2011 as a part-time internship coordinator serving Johnson, Iowa, and Washington counties. As the internship program grew, so did her role, eventually becoming full time and focusing on Johnson County to support the increasing number of internship requests and partnership opportunities.

Throughout her career, Rochelle has been passionate about helping students discover their potential. While she is proud of the tremendous growth of WLC’s internship program, she says her greatest accomplishment has been the relationships she’s built with students and business partners. Whether celebrating a student’s success, offering encouragement during challenges, or collaborating with employers to create meaningful career experiences, Rochelle has made a lasting impact on countless lives.

“Working with students has been the most rewarding part of my career,” says Rochelle. “I’ve had the opportunity to welcome them, encourage them, celebrate their successes, and provide guidance when they needed it most. It is heartwarming to see a student achieve their goals and hear them share how their internship experience helped shape their future. Knowing I’ve played a small role in their journey is something that I will not forget.”

Over the past 15 years, Rochelle has witnessed remarkable growth at WLC — from expanding programs and partnerships to earning national recognition as a Top 10 program in the U.S. Department of Education’s Career Z Challenge. She has been instrumental in helping the internship program evolve through initiatives such as dual-credit opportunities, asynchronous coursework, and expanded business partnerships, ensuring students are better prepared for their future careers. She has also provided employers with meaningful ways to invest in the next generation.

Thank you, Rochelle, for your 15 years of dedication, compassion, and commitment to helping students build brighter futures. Your impact will be felt for years to come, and we wish you all the best in your well-deserved retirement!

Student Editorial: A Summer of Learning, Advocacy, and Growth

My name is Ava Parsons, and I am a senior at Linn-Mar High School. This summer I did a WLC internship at Linn County’s National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI is an organization that supports people and families living with mental health conditions by providing advocacy and education. As part of my internship, I got to participate in youth workshops, hand out resources at Pride Fest, and be interviewed on KCRG!

I really enjoyed being at Pride Fest. My job was to manage the color wheel. People would come up and spin the wheel, answer a mental health trivia question, and then get a prize. I liked talking to people and interacting with the community. My internship has taught me to be more comfortable talking to strangers and initiating conversation. I also really liked being on KCRG, as it was a completely new experience for me. I went on with my internship host, Michelle Sutton, and the youth coordinator, Emma Blazek, to talk about youth mental health.

I am interested in psychology and mental health careers because the people who need support the most are the ones who the systems have historically failed. Whether that is long waitlists to get help, the cost, or the stigma surrounding seeking help, there is a lack of access for so many people. I want to make a difference and be part of the change to prioritize mental health in this country. I was already set on a degree in psychology, and this experience has solidified my decision. I cannot wait to pursue further education and enter this field.

My internship helped me explore future careers by introducing me to advocacy and what a typical day looks like for a career that focuses on ending the stigma. This internship has also introduced me to CRUSH recovery, which focuses on substance abuse, since I am currently exploring the possibility of going into addiction counseling. The experience will also be a great thing to put on my future resume and applications, showing that I already have had a little experience in the field.

After I graduate this spring, I plan to go to Kirkwood for a year to finish my Associate of Arts degree in Psychology and then transfer to the University of Iowa to get my bachelor’s and master’s degrees.