Urban Innovation21 Provides Internships for Pittsburgh Promise Scholars Together with Alcoa Foundation and UPMC

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May 28, 2013, 06:51 ET

PITTSBURGH, May 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Urban Innovation21 is providing paid internships for more than 60 local college students this summer—at least 40 of them recipients of the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship. This initiative provides students from Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), Carlow, Duquesne and Point Park universities with work experience, helping young professionals to find opportunities within our region.

Urban Innovation21 boosts regional economic development in underserved communities by supporting tech, life sciences, and energy startups, manufacturing companies and small businesses. One way the organization reaches this goal is by supplying paid interns to select companies. Approximately half of the interns are African American students and close to 50 percent are women, reflecting Urban Innovation21's commitment to create opportunities for under represented groups within the local innovation economy.

Twenty-four of the Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship recipients who attend CCAC will intern at local manufacturing companies. The Alcoa Foundation is funding this effort for the third consecutive summer, expanding support with additional funding in celebration of the Alcoa Foundation's 60^th anniversary.

"We are excited to be a part of this initiative that connects high achieving students from different fields of study with opportunities at strong manufacturing companies," said Julie Caponi, Assistant Treasurer, Pittsburgh Location Manager, for Alcoa. "Students will gain valuable, meaningful experiences and employers will benefit from the talents and ideas of their interns. This is a great way to connect young people with opportunities, and we are proud to support it."

UPMC funds 16 university students—also Promise Scholarship recipients—to intern in its various departments. The program supports the professional development of students, many of whom are first-generation college enrollees.

"UPMC is proud to continue our partnership with the Alcoa Foundation and CCAC to provide scholarship support for UI21's Pittsburgh Promise internship program," said Scott Lammie, Chief Financial Officer, UPMC Health Plan and Senior Vice President of the UPMC Insurance Services Division. "Internship experiences at Alcoa, UPMC, and other regional employers are so vitally important to help our Pittsburgh Promise students launch successful careers. We express deep appreciation and gratitude to all our partners who have made internships possible for these amazing Pittsburgh Promise students."

A celebratory event to kick off the students' internship assignment is scheduled for Thursday, May 30, at 6 p.m. at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Downtown. Speakers include Ms. Caponi of Alcoa and Ed Karlovich, Chief Financial Officer of the Hospital and Community Services Division at UPMC. Both executives are CCAC graduates.

"With the support of the Alcoa Foundation, UPMC and other funders, I am excited that ours is one of the largest and most diverse internship programs of its kind in our region," said William Generett Jr. President and CEO of Urban Innovation21.

Urban Innovation21 Partners and Supporters: Alcoa Foundation, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Carlow University, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, the Heinz Endowments, the Hill House Association, Hillman Foundation, Idea Foundry, Innovation Works, PA Department of Community and Economic Development, PNC Bank, Point Park University, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Surdna Foundation, UPMC Health Plan, The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Federal Government Economic Development Administration.

www.urbaninnovation21.org

SOURCE Urban Innovation21