Nominations Now Open for 2025 Top Virginia Employers for Interns

The Commonwealth seeks to recognize the "Top Virginia Employers for Interns" and their role in providing work-based learning opportunities to students through its fourth annual award program.

Complete this form and submit for consideration by February 28, 2025 so that your business or organization can be considered for this distinction. All Virginia-based employers offering internships, regardless of size and sector are eligible to be nominated. The nomination form should take 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

State-level recognition and award notification will take place by April 1, 2025, and regional events will occur after the notification in April or May.

The 2025 recipients will also be recognized during a special event on Virginia Intern Day (July 31, 2025).

Ryzing Technologies Benefits From V-TOP Matching Funds Program

As Business Development Manager for Ryzing Technologies, Ross Ruffing has had immense success in creating and managing internships for the company using the Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership’s matching funds program. Ruffing said Ryzing runs on a tight budget and has a lot of projects going on. V-TOP helped him maximize the ratio of hours worked to allocated funding. “If we’re paying interns 20 dollars an hour, that’s only 10 dollars coming out of Ryzing’s pocket, that makes it a lot easier and more helpful to the company. Good pay provides a better situation and attracts more motivated individuals.”

This past summer, Ruffing brought on three interns for Ryzing Technologies, one of which started as a mentee throughout high school and has now been hired as a full-time employee. “That has been a really fun thing to see—that progression,” Ruffing said. “They had to come in and figure some things out on their own, just like our [full time] employees do, and I was really impressed with how well they did that. Whenever they needed more guidance, they knew who to ask,” Ruffing said about the interns.

Ruffing said V-TOP’s training modules were helpful in mapping out the process of hiring and mentoring interns. However, they took some time to complete. “Start early,” he advised. “One mistake we made, as summer was starting, was waiting too long to kickstart the program. A week or two into summer break, we realized that most students already had internships planned...Even a week or two can really affect the overall chunk of time people are able to be with you.” But Ruffing advises to “take the time to learn and be trained.”

“I’m a big believer that an internship is 70/30: the company should attempt to give 70% and hope that the intern gives 30%. That way, [the intern] is still learning a lot and still providing value, but the company...is providing back to the intern as well. Ideally your interns hold the same standard for themselves.” Ruffing has worked with Ryzing’s mentorship program for about five years, starting before COVID. While the pandemic “put a lull in almost everything,” as Ruffing noted, they started their programs back up within the last two years.

If you or your company is looking to access V-TOP’s matching funds program, consider attending our newest initiative: “Tap Into Talent,” an in-person working session hosted by Mary Sullivan once a month. We have made it easier for you to complete the required training with only a 2-hour time commitment!

Intern Spotlight: Meet Jeremy Burns

Do you currently host an intern and want to highlight their success? Have them fill out this form to be featured on V-TOP—VIEW’s social media and in upcoming editions of our newsletter!

Upcoming Events

VTOP-VIEW Internship Hour Webinar

Third Wednesday of Every Month | 12-1pm

Online

Did you know that interns are a good source of new talent for your business? Interns can offer new perspectives, knowledge and techniques to address business challenges and projects. Find out how to get started with hosting interns in this interactive session. Bring your questions!

VTOP-VIEW Tap into Talent Working Session

Upcoming Sessions:

December 10 - Mountain Gateway Community College, Buena Vista | 1-3pm
January 14 - Christendom College, Front Royal | 1-3pm

$30,000 for your small business or non-profit organization! Interested? If your business has less than 150 employees and meets other requirements, you may qualify for intern wage matching funds. Complete required training by attending an in person working session.

Have a session location in mind? We are seeking locations throughout the Shenandoah Valley to hold in person working sessions. Contact Mary Sullivan if you would like to host a session or have an idea of a location in your area. 540-568-5568, sullivmx@jmu.edu

VTOP Staffing Agency Services & Matching Funds Program

$30,000 for your small business or non-profit organization! Interested? If your business or organization has 150 or fewer employees and meets other requirements, you may qualify for intern wage matching funds. If your business or organization has 250 or fewer employees, you may qualify for a staffing agency that will handle all the HR operations for your internship program.

Upcoming Virtual Sessions:

November 26 | 10am Learn More

JMU Spring 2025 Career Fairs

Visit the University Career Center’s website to learn more about JMU events or register as an employer here

College of Integrated Science and Engineering February 11, 2025 | 11am-3pm

Hart School (Hospitality Management, Sports & Recreation Management) February 12, 2025 | 10am-1pm

University Career Fair

February 18-19, 2025

Teacher Recruitment Day February 27, 2025 | 9:30am-4pm

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