The fall 2026 internship application portal is NOW OPEN through April 10! This opportunity to gain experience, make connections, and get ahead of the curve is open to current 10th and 11th grade students. Students in the internship program earn dual credit through Kirkwood Community College and their local high school. Learn more.

A Case Study in Career Exploration

Alex Chavez, a Linn-Mar senior, is a perfect case study for utilizing WLC programs to identify, define, and explore career interests while in high school.
Alex knew he had an interest in engineering, yet he wasn’t sure which direction his path would take. Over the last three years, Alex has completed three WLC job shadows and two WLC internships with five different area businesses: BAE Systems, Collins Aerospace, New Leader Manufacturing, Design Engineers, and MSI Mold Builders.

Hear from Alex on the value of his experiences:

“The WLC opportunities helped me narrow down my choice of industry and solidified my decision to pursue electrical engineering as a career path after graduation. In my early high school years, I was on the fence between mechanical and electrical engineering. The businesses and workers I shadowed helped me find that electrical engineering is my best fit. No class is as valuable as walking into a business and witnessing actual engineers doing their job. Classes teach a sort of theoretical engineering, while the job shadows and internships show you the actual engineering in process.

“Before completing any of WLC’s opportunities, I had a very narrow view of the engineering world: Civil engineers worked on buildings, mechanical engineers worked on cars, electrical engineers worked on computer chips. The variety of companies I was able to meet with helped expand my view of the engineering industry and how the different engineering fields work together. There are so many paths I can take in the future. A few of the companies even expressed interest in hiring me.

“The summer before junior year, I completed my first WLC internship with Design Engineers. This company designs HVAC and electrical systems for buildings, and they walked me through the entire process. I sat in on a planning meeting, experimented with lighting simulations, and integrated HVAC into digital floor plans. Perhaps the most valuable opportunity was my time with Design Engineers’ college interns. I was often paired with one of them, and through my conversations, learned about the post-college hiring process and internship expectations. At the time, Design Engineers was contracted to help with the renovations for Linn-Mar’s AEC building, and I got the chance to walk through the complex in its construction stage, verifying that the HVAC was appropriately routed.

“My second internship was with MSI Mold Builders. MSI is a highly specialized factory. Instead of churning out thousands of models, MSI builds only a few of each of their extremely precise molds. Some are only built once. I shadowed employees in the 3D modeling section who designed pieces before construction, I talked with the programmers who wrote the software for the manufacturing machines, and I stood beside factory floor workers as they managed their own unique machines. My time on the factory floor was especially interesting. The level of precision surprised me. Even 10 thousandths of an inch of error was unacceptable.

“WLC gives students a competitive advantage. Not many areas have access to programs like WLC, and being able to get real-world experience at such a young age is invaluable. Not only does it set me apart from my peers, but it allows me to work half a step ahead of them as well. I already have seen various job industries, so when I begin to look for job opportunities, I will already know a good deal about what I am looking for in my profession.

“I plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and I hope to enter the research and development field in the aerospace industry. I feel confident in my path thanks to WLC.”

Where Are They Now: Chasity Alexander — From WLC Internship to Kirkwood to Business Ownership

Chasity Alexander graduated from Iowa Valley Jr/Sr High School in 2023. During her time at Iowa Valley, she completed three WLC job shadows and a WLC internship with Safe Haven of Iowa County as an animal caretaker.

“My WLC internship gave me real, hands-on exposure to working with animals in a professional setting,” Chasity says. “Before that experience, I knew I loved animals, but I didn’t fully understand what careers in the animal field looked like day to day. Being in that environment helped me see the responsibility, emotional investment, and work ethic it takes to care for animals professionally. It helped me realize that I didn’t just love animals — I wanted to build a career working with them.”

Feeling confident in her path, Chasity decided to graduate from high school a semester early and enroll at Kirkwood Community College just one week later. “My internship experience directly influenced my education and career path and gave me the clarity to move forward quickly and intentionally,” Chasity says. “I enrolled in the 12-week Pet Grooming program and completed it before my high school class had even graduated. The program provided hands-on training in breed cuts, safety, sanitation, client communication, and business fundamentals. It allowed me to step directly into the grooming industry with confidence and technical skill. I chose Kirkwood because of its strong hands-on training programs and its connection to local career pathways. Since I had already benefited from WLC opportunities, continuing my education at Kirkwood felt like a natural next step. It allowed me to move efficiently into a career-focused program without delay.”

Chasity encourages high school students to take advantage of the opportunities provided by WLC. “Even if you’re unsure about your future, real-world experience helps you gain clarity much faster than guessing. Having real-world experience before graduating gave me an advantage when entering the grooming program. I already understood animal behavior, handling techniques, and workplace expectations. That foundation helped me transition smoothly into professional training,” Chasity says.

Today, Chasity is the groomer at Heits Kennel & Grooming in Williamsburg, managing her ever-growing list of clients!

Business Editorial: Cedar Rapids Police Department Partners With Workplace Learning Connection By Sergeant Jennifer Roberts

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is proud to partner with Kirkwood’s Workplace Learning Connection to provide students with an immersive, daylong job shadow experience in the field of law enforcement. Through this program, we showcase the wide range of career opportunities available within the CRPD and give students a firsthand look at what it means to serve our community.

Participants engage in hands-on activities such as defensive tactics and simulator training, and they gain insight into the specialized tools and equipment used by our various units. This interactive approach allows students to experience the dynamic nature of law enforcement beyond the classroom.

Our collaboration with WLC enables us to connect with students from local schools in a small-group setting, fostering meaningful conversations and answering their questions about the profession. These sessions provide an invaluable opportunity to explain the many roles within the department and the impact officers have on public safety.

In addition to our Mini Police Day, the CRPD also collaborates with WLC to support ride-along requests and middle school career speaker events each year.

The CRPD is committed to recruiting talented individuals who are passionate about serving their community. Programs like this help spark interest among future applicants and strengthen our ties with the next generation of law enforcement professionals. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership with WLC for years to come.