8 Internships for High School Students in West Virginia
As a high school student, internships can offer a real-world insight into various industries and potential career paths. Internships provide both flexibility and practical experience, allowing you to use your time productively while also helping you explore different academic avenues. Doing an internship also demonstrates initiative and interest in your chosen fields—qualities that can strengthen your college applications.
Internships offer you networking and mentorship opportunities and a glimpse of the professional environment, which will help you lay a solid groundwork for your future career.
In this blog, we’ve compiled a curated list of 8 internships for high school students in West Virginia that are designed to provide entry-level exposure and experience.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: $2490 – $7400 (full financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Internship Dates: This is an 8-week program with several cohorts throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Eligibility: Applications are open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who are free to work 5-15 hours a week.
Ladder Internships provides students across the world with internship opportunities across a variety of industries, including tech, marketing, business development, finance, and design. The program places an emphasis on career progression and networking by acting as a connection between students, recent graduates, and experts in the field.
As a participant, you will work on real-world projects, putting your academic knowledge to use in realistic situations and honing your talents while learning about the advantages, difficulties, and dynamics of startups. Interns gain experience in high-level decision-making processes and receive 1-on-1 mentorship from founders and team members—as well as a Ladder Coach.
Location: Online
Cost: $5400 (full financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
Internship Dates: This is an 8-week program with several cohorts throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Eligibility: Applicants must be in grades 9-12 and have a basic understanding of Python or completion of AI scholars.
This program, founded by Harvard alumni, offers high school students a structured opportunity to learn and engage with artificial intelligence. Participants explore AI applications in diverse areas, such as healthcare and climate change, with the chance to present their projects through publications or competitions.
Students work closely with AI expert mentors and receive personalized guidance on using their AI experience to enhance their college applications. The program’s goal is to provide young learners with practical AI knowledge and skills, along with the support needed to pursue their academic and professional goals.
3. Appalachian Headwaters Foundation Environmental Education Internship Program
Location: Lewisburg, West Virginia
Stipend: $3200-$5000 + completion bonuses
Application Deadline: TBA!
Program Dates: 8-10 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
The Headwaters Foundation Environmental Education Internship Program provides high school students with experiences in environmental education and conservation. Located in the Appalachian region, this internship allows participants to work alongside environmental educators, engage in hands-on activities, and contribute to conservation efforts.
As an intern, you will gain practical skills in environmental stewardship, program facilitation, and community outreach, fostering an understanding of ecological issues. This program encourages students to explore careers in environmental education while making a positive impact on local ecosystems and communities.
Location: Programs offered at NASA facilities across the country. Some remote opportunities are also offered.
Stipend: Most programs are paid, but some are volunteer opportunities.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines.
Internship Dates: Programs are available year-long
Eligibility:
-Minimum age: 16
-Minimum CGPA: 3.0
-Be a full-time student (high school through graduate level) or a part-time college-level student enrolled in at least six semester hours.
The NASA OSTEM Internship offers high school and college students the chance to engage in cutting-edge research and innovation. This program spans multiple fields at NASA centers across the United States, including engineering, computer science, environmental science, and space technology, allowing students to delve into the areas they are interested in.
As an intern, you will contribute to projects crucial to NASA's mission, working closely with NASA professionals and researchers. You will present your findings at the end of the internship, showcasing your contributions to your team and the NASA community. Each intern is paired with a mentor who guides them through the research process, offering insights and support to help them succeed in a high-tech environment. The NASA OSTEM Internship provides a balanced academic and practical skill development curriculum that caters to students’ academic and professional growth.
5. Smithsonian Internships at the National Zoo
Location: Virtual
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.
Application Deadline: Varies according to internship
Program Dates: All year-round
Eligibility: Varies by internship; some are open to high school students, others to undergraduates or graduates.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo offers a variety of internship opportunities designed to provide participants with hands-on experience in the fields of animal care, conservation, education, and research. These internships allow participants to work alongside expert zookeepers, educators, researchers, and scientists in a unique and inspiring environment. Interns gain insights into wildlife conservation, learn how to care for diverse species, and contribute to ongoing conservation efforts.
Hosted at the National Zoo, these programs provide a deep dive into subjects like biology, ecology, veterinary sciences, and public education. Participants also develop professional skills in research, communication, and teamwork while making meaningful contributions to the zoo's mission. The program fosters a deeper understanding of animal behavior and conservation, preparing students for future careers in biology, zoology, or environmental sciences.
6. Stanford University's SHTEM Summer Internships
Location: Virtual
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.
Application Deadline: Fill out this form to be notified when the 2025 session registration opens.
Internship Dates: This is a summer program that goes on for eight weeks.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old can apply.
The Stanford SHTEM (science, humanities, technology, engineering, and math) Summer Research Internships Program is an entirely virtual internship opportunity for high school students. It aims to provide students with cutting-edge research in an academic environment. It also introduces students to diverse research topics in engineering and the link between humanities and STEM research.
As an intern, you will be placed in project groups. Each group is assigned one or more mentors—usually students or faculty and staff of the Stanford Compression Forum and its affiliated organizations. Throughout the program, you will work on their assigned group research projects virtually while maintaining regular communication with the mentor and group members. Materials will be sent to students for hardware projects. Overall, students are expected to work 30-40 hours per week. The program ends with the presentation of projects.
Location: Virtual
Stipend: This is a paid internship (amount unspecified).
Application Deadline: TBA!
Program Dates: Summer
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors with unrestricted work authorization.
PHC Group's Mary Miller Summer Program offers students the opportunity to explore careers in healthcare and life sciences. The program is designed to introduce participants to a global team of experts, allowing them to contribute to social media-related projects, online community interaction, and technical support.
The program aims to foster critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Some of your tasks will involve attending virtual meetings, engaging in a collaborative exchange, and implementing meaningful social marketing research and social media interactions.
8. SPARK Summer Internship Program Fields
Location: Virtual options available
Stipend: Some projects offer stipends while others don’t.
Application Deadline: April
Program Dates: June-August (tentatively)
Eligibility: Must be a high school student in grades 9-12 for the current school year and a U.S. citizen.
The SPARK Summer Internship Program (SPARK SIP) connects high school students with mentors, industry professionals, and academics from universities while they work on innovative STEM projects. The program will give you a glimpse of a professional work atmosphere. As an intern, you should be able to work between 20 and 40 hours a week.
Every project in the program has specific requirements. For example, candidates for a previous internship focused on "DNA Sequence Classification based on Electrical Signatures" were required to have some experience with machine learning and scientific computing and be proficient in Python. Be sure to take a look at the eligibility criteria for the programs you apply to!