- Rockwood School District
- Project Interface - Summer Internships
Project Interface Summer Internship Program
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What is Project Interface?
Project Interface is a unique, unpaid summer internship opportunity that places students in a career area of their interest. The program is offered to qualified Rockwood juniors in the summer leading into their senior year of high school.
- Project Interface provides students with career exploration opportunities while allowing them to gain practical, real-world experience in a field of interest.
- Students are partnered with a business professional in the student's area of interest. Students then complete a custom-designed project developed by Project Interface Program Managers with input from the business partner. The project design is written to benefit both the student and the business partner.
- Successful students receive 1/2 of a CTE credit after documenting a minimum of 75 hours on their projects. The program includes student observation, research, meetings and interviews at the business site. The project culminates in a presentation by the students to the business team and Rockwood staff.
Program Overview
Click Here to Watch the Student Information Meeting
The Project Interface Summer 2023 Application is now closed.We are still accepting Teacher Recommendations for the applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What do you look for in a candidate for an internship?
There are many aspects considered when accepting students for Project Interface. As we’ll discuss in our Student Information Meetings, we look for students who have a foundation of relevant coursework, extracurriculars, and outside interests that supports their career choice. We also look for students who are motivated to learn, take initiative, and possess the diligence to see their tasks through to completion with little supervision. The student's ability to articulate all of this through their application, personal statement, and interview are pivotal.
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What career areas are offered by the Project Interface program?
Our Program Managers are skilled at finding appropriate placements aligned to the student's area of interest. We have placed students in dozens of career fields including the arts, law, music, engineering, computer science, journalism, marketing/PR, and even archaeology. The more clearly a student is able to articulate their interests through the application process and interview, the better our program managers will be able to serve them.
Students are encouraged to register with SCOIR to utilize YouScience, a career planning and research tool found under the "Career Profile" tab. Complete 11 "brain games" to measure your aptitudes and interests to find career matches for you. Instructions on how to get started may be found here.
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When would I need to have my summer schedule available?
Your availability is an important consideration before being matched for an internship.
Most important, perhaps, is for us to understand where Project Interface falls in priority with your other commitments. Certainly, most families will take vacations, and you’ll have another week or two where you may visit colleges, get a part-time job, participate in sports conditioning, attend university workshops, etc. The more flexible you can be, the easier it is to find a business partner for you. Communicate with your supervisor/coach/parents about your intentions to participate in an internship this summer and it will be easier to navigate as we begin scheduling.
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How will I know that my application is received and complete?
Once you have applied, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. Additionally, as applications are being processed, we will review every necessary component and will reach out to you personally should anything be flagged as incomplete. The best advice is to carefully review your application prior to submitting and ALWAYS check your email for updates.
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Who do I call if I’m having trouble with my application?
If you have any trouble applying or general questions, please send an email to:
Mrs. Dixie Baker
636-733-2128Monday-Tuesday-Thursday
or
636-733-2131
Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday
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What if I decide that I no longer want to participate after I have applied? Or after I’ve interviewed?
Students are accepted into the program once:
1) a completed application has been received
2) the student has been interviewed; and
3) has received an Acceptance Letter.
At any time, should a student determine that Project Interface is not a good fit for any reason, please notify either Mrs. Baker or Mrs. Chorpening via email or phone. We will document your application file accordingly and will remove you from consideration.
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A NOTE Regarding COVID-19
It is very important to note that due to COVID-19, our main focus is on the health and safety of our students, staff, and business partners. We will continue to follow the guidelines recommended by our district and err on the side of caution. We will also continue to evaluate and modify our policies and procedures as required while ensuring the very best experience for each student participant.
Project Interface Student Stories
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Rockwood Student Earns Hands-On Aerospace Engineering Experience Through Project Interface
Research Report Highlights Lafayette Student's Project Interface Intern Experience
Project Interface Intern Gains Experience with Public Defender
Rockwood Project Interface Intern Gains City Planning Experience
Are you Interested in Hosting an Intern?
Hosting a summer intern is a great opportunity for businesses and organizations to give back to their community by helping prepare students for future career paths. Here's what we ask of our business partners:
- Collaborate with the Project Interface Team to outline student activities.
- Provide interns with an on-site orientation and experience overview.
- Act as a mentor, resource, and advisor for the intern(s).
- Attend the intern's end-of-summer presentation
- Enjoy the experience!

Dixie Baker
Project Interface Manager

Karrie Lehman
Project Interface Manager