SWC Intern Program · Pilot Initiative

Real Projects. Real Mentorship.Real-World Ready.

We're piloting a new kind of internship — one that pairs college students with small businesses that need marketing, AI solutions, and web design support, mentored by two decades of corporate leadership experience. It's hands-on, it's real, and everybody wins.

Why We Built This

Funding is scarce. So we got creative.

Like most nonprofits, SWC operates on limited funding — and stretching every dollar means we can't rely on donations alone to grow our impact. So instead of waiting for more resources, we built a program that creates value for everyone at the table.

We've partnered with small businesses that don't have the budget for a dedicated marketing, AI, or web development team, and with universities eager to give their students real, hands-on project experience. Our student interns step in to fill that gap.

Built on Partnership, Not Charity

This isn't a favor in either direction. Small businesses get real project work from motivated, capable students. Students get real experience and real mentorship. It's a genuine exchange of value.

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Small Business PartnersCompanies that need marketing, AI solutions, web design, or project support but don't have the budget for a full team.
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University PartnershipsWe work with university programs to place and mentor college students on real client projects.
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Structured MentorshipEvery project is coached, not just assigned — students get guidance from start to finish.
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Mission-Aligned FundingSupport from business and university partners helps SWC keep our core programs free and accessible.
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Led by Coach Marisol

20+ years of corporate discipline, now mentoring the next generation.

The program is led by Marisol Starr, SWC's Founder & President, who brings more than 20 years of corporate experience in the cybersecurity industry into every project she coaches.

That background shows up in how she mentors: structured, disciplined, and focused on preparing students for what the real world actually expects — not just what a syllabus covers.

20+ Years Corporate ExperienceCybersecurity Industry BackgroundHands-On Project Coaching
For Our Student Interns

Skills you can't always get in a classroom.

Every project is built around real deliverables for a real business — which means the skills students walk away with are the ones employers actually ask about.

Connected to Our Mission: Lifelong Skills

Career readiness falls under Lifelong Skills, one of the core pillars of SWC's mission. Just as we teach nutrition habits that last a lifetime, we're just as invested in equipping our student interns with the professional skills that will serve them long after this internship ends.

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Teamwork

Students work in project teams, learning to collaborate, divide responsibility, and rely on one another to deliver.

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Communication

Presenting ideas, giving updates, and managing client expectations — the soft skills that make or break a career.

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Project Management

Real timelines, real deliverables, and real accountability — students learn to manage a project from kickoff to handoff.

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Portfolio-Ready Work

Every project becomes something a student can point to in an interview — proof of what they can actually do.

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AI & Web Design Skills

Hands-on exposure to AI tools and web design work through real client projects — practical, in-demand skills employers are actively looking for.

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LinkedIn & Résumé Coaching

Every internship includes a full LinkedIn and résumé overhaul, built together with Coach Marisol.

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Career Readiness

One-on-one coaching on interviewing, professionalism, and what it actually takes to land — and keep — the job you want.

The Model

A win for everyone at the table.

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Small Businesses

Get access to talented, coached student teams who deliver real marketing, AI, and web design support they couldn't otherwise afford.

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Students

Gain hands-on project experience, mentorship from an industry veteran, and dedicated LinkedIn, résumé, and career-readiness coaching.

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SWC

Receives support from business and university partners that helps fund and sustain our mission of accessible wellness education.

In Their Words

What our interns are saying.

We've worked on multiple projects we're incredibly proud of, and our students have walked away with real, valuable experience.

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[Insert student testimonial here — what they worked on, what they learned, and how the experience helped them.]

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[Student Name]
[University / Project]
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[Insert student testimonial here — what they worked on, what they learned, and how the experience helped them.]

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[Student Name]
[University / Project]
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[Insert student testimonial here — what they worked on, what they learned, and how the experience helped them.]

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[Student Name]
[University / Project]

Placeholder cards — swap in real student quotes, names, universities, and initials before this page goes live.

Own a small business? Let's talk.

If your business could use marketing, AI solutions, or web design support but doesn't have the budget for a full team, our student teams — coached every step of the way — may be a great fit.

Partner With SWC →

A student looking for real experience?

Get hands-on project experience, mentorship from Coach Marisol, and dedicated career-readiness coaching — all as part of your internship.

Apply to Intern →