ELEVATE is a paid summer internship opportunity where Appalachian students and recent graduates will cultivate meaningful ties with the region, ready themselves for fulfilling careers within Appalachia and engage with local economic development partners within their communities.
We are now accepting applications for summer 2025 internship cohort! All current students and recent graduates attending a two- or four-year college or university in the Appalachian Region are eligible to apply.
The ELEVATE Experience
ELEVATE will select up to four students who will spend eight weeks (June 2 – July 25, 2025) at ARC’s office in Washington, D.C.
Based on their career goals and interests, ELEVATE interns will support one of four ARC divisions: Business and Workforce Investment, Division of Critical Infrastructure, the Office of General Counsel and Technical Assistance.
In addition to being compensated for their work on engaging projects, ELEVATE interns receive employer-sponsored housing at a D.C. university, commuting benefits, and have educational explorations of D.C. landmarks.
Elevating All Students
In alignment with ARC’s mission to help Appalachia reach socioeconomic parity with the rest of the nation, underrepresented student populations are encouraged to participate. This includes:
- Students and recent graduates of Appalachia’s 15 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
- First-generation students and recent graduates.
- Students who live in, or are from, economically distressed or at-risk counties.
Interested in ELEVATE? Watch these student-produced videos from 2023 and 2024 to learn more.
If you have questions, please contact hr@arc.gov.
