The Associated Students of the University of Nevada's Pack Internship Grant Program hosted a reception today to honor interns who participated. In the past year, ASUN and the University's Nevada Career Studio helped students gain work experience through internships in the Reno community.

In its inaugural year, the Pack Internship Grant Program is a multidisciplinary program that provides funding for 20 individual student internships with northern Nevada businesses, nonprofits and public agencies. The program partners with employers to develop mutually beneficial, substantive internship opportunities for Nevada students. The grant money funds student wages at $12 per hour for 120 hours.

"Our first successful year with this internship program allowed students to further their skills by gaining experience in the workforce," Alex Bybee, former ASUN vice president, said. "This poster presentation gives the inaugural class of Pack Interns an opportunity to reflect and share their internship experiences with faculty, employers and their peers. Serving as their 'capstone' to their experience, the event allowed more people to engage with the program, and attract future applicants."

At the reception, "Pack Interns" presented their experiences working for different employers in the community. Employer partners for the internship program included: The Abbi Agency, Animal Ark, Chamber of Commerce, Great Basin Community Food Cooperative, Inqiri, Nevada Humane Society, Nevada State Senate, Nevada Museum of Art, Pistil & Stigma Community & Government Relations Firm, Quest Counseling & Consulting, Sierra Nevada Journeys and the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Forensic Science Division.

"This was a great first year with wonderful partners," Bybee said. "ASUN and the Career Studio hope more employers will partner with the internship program in the upcoming years."

For more information on the Pack Internship Grant Program or ASUN, visit www.nevadaasun.com.