Emerging Professionals Take the Spotlight: Media Invited to Celebrate Intern Success at April 21st Open House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: Friday, April 18, 2025
Download PDF of Press Release Here
MEDIA CONTACT
Xena Mercado, Communications Manager
Office: 361-885-3030 Cell: 361-232-1644
Corpus Christi, TX – Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend (WFSCB) and Education to Employment Partners (E2E) invite the media to a special Emerging Professionals Internship Program (EPIP) Open House on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina (707 N. Shoreline Blvd). This engaging event will showcase the impact of the Texas Internship Initiative (TII) Grant-funded program, coming into its sixth year, and will spotlight local students who are actively building their careers with the support of Coastal Bend employers.
The EPIP Open House will feature stories of work experience and opportunity—media attendees will have access to interviews with participating interns, proud families, forward-thinking employers, and program leaders who are bringing education and the workforce together in meaningful ways.
About the Emerging Professionals Internship Program (EPIP):
Since its launch in 2019, EPIP has served 147 high school students in the Coastal Bend area, equipping them with essential skills training and placing them in paid internships in high-demand industries. Interns have explored career pathways in Accounting, Business/Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Healthcare, and Information Technology, with internships ranging from 6 weeks to 8 months.
This year alone, 32 students are participating in internships with 12 local employers, including Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend, C2 Global, Law Office of John D. Garcia, Branscomb Law, City of Corpus Christi, and the Port of Corpus Christi. These employers not only provide hands-on experience but serve as mentors, helping students envision their professional futures with clarity and purpose.
Through the TII Grant, students can receive up to $1,100 in incentive stipends for meeting key benchmarks in the program, in addition to earning $12 per hour for part-time work.
Call to Action to the Coastal Bend
Education to Employment Partners is actively recruiting employers and students for the upcoming 2025–2026 cohort, which will run from September 2025 to April 2026. Students graduating in 2026 are encouraged to apply, and employers across the Coastal Bend region are invited to invest in the next generation of professionals by hosting interns.
To learn more about how to get involved as an employer or student participant in EPIP, contact Gavin Neill, E2E’s Director of Programs and Initiatives at (361) 906-0703 or email gneill@e2epartners.org.
Call to Action to the Media
Media representatives are encouraged to attend and cover this inspiring event, amplifying the voices of our region’s emerging professionals.
**The Emerging Professionals Internship Program is a collaborative initiative between Workforce Solutions Coastal Bend and Education to Employment Partners, funded by the Texas Internship Initiative Grant, EPIP empowers high school students to explore career pathways through paid internships, mentorship, and essential skills training—creating a strong talent pipeline for the Coastal Bend region.
At Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend, we invest in the regional economic success through access to jobs, training and employer services. Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend is one of 28 local workforce boards located throughout the State of Texas. The board services Nueces, San Patricio, Kleberg, Aransas, Kenedy, Bee, Refugio, Live Oak, Brooks, Duval, and Jim Wells counties.