The summer 2026 internship portal is open for current sophomores and juniors in high school until Feb. 6, 2026, at 3 p.m.

Supporting Student Success Through Asynchronous J-Term Internships

Over the last three years, the Belle Plaine Community School District has implemented a J-Term during the first week of January, following students’ return from winter break. J-Term is a one-week session between semesters that allows students to select classes and learning opportunities outside of their traditional coursework, all based on individual interests and preferences.

WLC internships have been part of the J-Term offerings since the beginning. However, due to the compressed timeline and more intensive attendance schedule, it can be challenging for students to complete required on-site work hours while also participating in the three Career Development Meetings that are part of the internship program. This challenge is further compounded by the fact that many internship sites are located in neighboring communities, adding travel time to students’ already full schedules.

To make the internship opportunity more accessible, WLC recognized the need for a J-Term solution that maintained the quality of the program while offering greater flexibility. The asynchronous format of course WBL200 was developed to meet this need.

This new format brings much of the content traditionally delivered during in-person Career Development Meetings to an online platform, allowing students to complete coursework on their own time or while at their internship locations. Students engage with videos and online resources curated and created by the WLC team, covering topics such as professionalism, communication skills, goal setting, confidentiality, workplace safety, and personal strengths.

Belle Plaine counselor Makenna Evans said, “This course is an excellent opportunity for students who are interested in getting some short-term experience in a field they are interested in. With the new class formatting, students complete activities that align with their internship experience in the same time frame that they are actually on-site at their placements; this can help them to really reflect on takeaways from their internship placements as they are experiencing them. Not only that, but our students are also earning college credit for their time and efforts. It is a total win all around for them as high school students but also as future college students and professionals!”

During the pilot session this month, eight students from Belle Plaine High School are participating in the asynchronous course. One of those students, senior Ava Parizek, a previous WLC Internship Program participant, shared her experience with the new format.

“When we began doing J-Term at my school, I knew I was going to try the WLC internship offering when I was able to. My first year, I did not know what to expect, but I had a great experience at Virginia Gay Hospital. The support from everybody was beyond measure.”

Although Ava loved the experience, there were some difficulties. Virginia Gay is located about 40 miles from Belle Plaine High School. The additional transportation time made it difficult for her to complete all required internship hours while still returning to school for in-person meetings.

“This year, when it was announced that there was a new format we were trying, I was so excited,” Ava shared. “Before I even started meeting with my host, the information on what needed to be done was very understandable and easy to navigate. I really appreciate the new course setup. Last year we had several meetings to turn in paperwork, whereas this year we are able to upload everything online, which is super beneficial. It allows us to spend more time working with our host. Overall, I have had a great experience with this course and would definitely recommend an internship like this to other students.”

Student Perspectives: My STEAM Experience

Workplace Learning Connection’s STEAM Institute gives area seventh grade students the opportunity to explore careers and pathways within the STEAM fields — science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

What better way to share the impact of this event than by hearing from students themselves!

“During my STEAM experience, I heard from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and nurses from the VA Hospital and learned about epidemiology. In the Fire Department session, we learned to tie different knots using rope. The VA nurses taught us about hand washing and germs. In the Epidemiology session, we did an activity to find what caused an outbreak in a zombie apocalypse. Everyone who shared their careers with us made their job seem like fun, and I could see myself doing their job when I grow up.

“The experience also helped show me that I don't have to make a choice right now, I still have a lot of time, and there are a lot of jobs that sound interesting.” – Rayan Deffand, Oak Ridge Middle School

“During one of my sessions, I heard from a Collins Aerospace engineer; we built towers out of marshmallows and sticks to understand how physics plays a role in building design. My other favorite session was the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering session. We built a window into a frame, built a wall, and made an electric circuit to light up a bulb.

“I really enjoyed the hands-on elements of the event. The experience showed me some jobs I may have interest in and taught me more that I didn't know I liked. Also, it helped me understand more about jobs out there in general.” – Jameson DeSotel, Excelsior Middle School

“My STEAM experience showed me how people work together to make amazing stuff like buildings and electronics. This was a very fun field trip. It has me thinking about my future and what careers may interest me. It was also helpful how the presenters mixed their personal stories and experiences in with the lesson.” – Mayzie Fort, Excelsior Middle School