Front row, left to right: Alana Martin, Lylah Peters, Neva Clarke, Lisa Ramsden, Londyn Liggett, Abigail Tahtinen, Avayah Salaam; Middle row: Emma Kinzelman, Kaden Randall, Natalia Mauer, Jayda Wellnitz, Jacqueline Marquis, Bronwyn Sherlund, Sophie Chesney, Alan Perez-Plata; Back row: Shaler Urish, Simon Doll, Alexander Castellanos, Daylen Schilling, Jeron Thorson, Dylan Bongle, Cole Wegner.
On Friday, July 25, 23 high school juniors graduated from their summer internships in a ceremony at Blackhawk Technical College’s Beloit-Janesville Campus. Each student shared a summary of their internship experiences, offering insights and achievements with family, friends and employers in attendance.
Through a partnership with Blackhawk, the County of Rock, Rock County 5.0 and the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, the 2025 Summer Rock Internship Program is a paid, six-week, earn-and-learn opportunity that provides students with a structured career pathway experience.
Students participating in the Rock Internship Program were required to submit a resume, a letter of recommendation, and an academic and career plan. These background items, along with other factors, such as a student’s identified career pathway and/or actual occupation of interest, were used to match students with their worksites.
Employers participating in this summer’s program include: Angus-Young, Batterman, Blackhawk Technical College, CCI, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce/Irontek, JP Cullen, MercyHealth, The Morse Group, OrthoIllinois, Rock County, Scot Forge, SSM Health, Stoughton Trailers, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Rock County, Welty Environmental Center and YWCA Rock County.
This year’s summer intern graduates are:
- Sophie Chesney, Milton High School
- Alan Perez-Plata, Edgerton High School
- Dylan Bongle, Rock University High School
- Alexander Castellanos, Rock University High School
- Shaler Urish, Rock County Christian High School
- Jeron Thorson, Janesville Parker High School
- Emma Kinzelman, Janesville Craig High School
- Abigail Tahtinen, Beloit Turner High School
- Simon Doll, Edgerton High School
- Essence Coleman, Beloit Memorial High School
- Natalia Mauer, Rock University High School
- Bronwyn Sherlund, Beloit Turner High School
- Neva Clarke, Clinton Jr./Sr. High School
- Lylah Peters, Clinton Jr./Sr. High School
- Alana Martin, Edgerton High School
- Cole Wegner, Milton High School
- Kaden Randall, The Lincoln Academy High School
- Londyn (Madyson) Liggett, Beloit Turner High School
- Avayah Salaam, Janesville Parker High School
- Jayda Wellnitz, Clinton Jr./Sr. High School
- Daylen Schilling, Janesville Parker High School
- Lisa Ramsden, Beloit Memorial High School
- Jacqueline Marquis, Rock University High School
The Summer 2025 cohort marks the sixth time this program has been offered in Rock County. To learn more about these workforce and talent development initiatives, please contact Blackhawk’s Workforce & Community Development at businessdevelopment@blackhawk.edu or (608) 757-7623.