VyStar Credit Union is committed to putting students on the path to success.
Our High School Branch Program has created thousands of paid internships, including dozens of students who have gone on to become full-time employees at our credit union, and spread financial wellness across our communities. This summer, we expanded on the success of our internship program to launch our inaugural cohort of college interns.
VyStar’s summer internship pilot program provided more than a dozen students with practical experience and the opportunity to expand their networks. The program offered positions in a variety of business units such as Advanced Analytics, Digital Experience, Financial Planning, Human Resources, Member Services and Marketing.
Beverly Winkler, Organizational Performance and Development Manager, played an important role in bringing the college internship program to life. Throughout the summer, Beverly served as a mentor for the interns and met with them weekly to support their professional development goals.
“I have always had a passion for watching people grow, and I got to do that this summer with our interns,” Winkler said. "The most rewarding part of this experience was seeing them bond as a cohort and hearing about their unique experiences in each department — they truly learned so much.”
In addition to working on real business initiatives, the interns also participated in professional development. Some of these opportunities included a DiSC assessment to heighten self-awareness, unconscious bias training to increase awareness of their own biases and how to commit to inclusion in the workplace, and a college-to-corporate panel to hear from recent college graduates and their experience transitioning to the workplace.
Upon completion of their internships, students were given the opportunity to share their experiences with VyStar employees. Many said they felt better equipped as they returned to their college classes because of what they learned at VyStar.
"Throughout the summer, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and learned more about myself and all that I was capable of,” said Emerald Hall, an intern in the Marketing department. “I know that I am leaving a more confident and capable business professional and I am so thankful for everything VyStar has taught me.”
The interns built relationships with each other and leaders, but also got to learn directly from supervisors in their respective departments. Sharon LaSure-Roy, VyStar’s Vice President of Social Marketing, managed three interns in the Marketing department.
“I was so pleased with the talent we hired this summer. The interns came to us with innovative ideas, determination and a great work ethic,” LaSure-Roy said. “They helped to drive change across the department and had a direct impact on our social media pages, sponsorships and in the branches.”
VyStar plans to continue the summer internship program in the future. If you’re interested in a VyStar internship, visit our Careers page to learn more.