UTICA -- Flanked by one of the region’s top high tech employers and two Oneida County residents who discovered opportunity through the Oneida County College Student Corps, Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr. today announced that this week, Oneida County will begin accepting pre-applications for next summer’s highly successful College Student Corps.

"The College Student Corps is doing a terrific job of helping our college students understand that good jobs and exciting opportunities exist in the Mohawk Valley," Eannace said. "When you talk to employers and students who have been a part of this program, they are full of optimism and hope -- just what this region needs."

Echoing Eannace’s praise for the program – and the region – were Don Hart, Executive Director of Rome Research Corp., Carol Finn, a College Student Corps intern hired as a software engineer by PAR Government Systems, a sister firm of Rome Research, and Gregory Pensero of Utica, an electrical engineering technology major at SUNY Institute of Technology who spent two summers as an intern at Rome Research.

Through her experience in the College Student Corps, Finn found that challenging, rewarding, intriguing careers existed in the Mohawk Valley and thinks the College Student Corps will be a factor in bringing the region a new generation of young, upbeat people who want challenging careers and want them in the Mohawk Valley. "If we stay, then we talk to our friends about staying. The message gets passed along."

"This is an excellent program," said Hart. "I can’t say enough good things about it. It helped us get some great summer interns, and it’s helping to keep these college students in the area even after they graduate from college."

"It’s the best thing I’ve ever done," said Pensero. "If it were not for this program, there’s a lot better chance I would be looking at having to leave the area. There’s a lot of opportunity out here. There’s a lot more than people think. ... More people need to know about this program and find out what kinds of great things we have around here."

The word is getting around among employers, Eannace said.

"Our survey of this past summer’s employers showed that more than 90 percent have a great interest in hiring the interns they had for the summer," he said. "And a long-term tracking survey of the program’s first three years showed that interns who have been through it see this as a major gateway to opportunity."

The program is funded by the Oneida County Board of Legislators and participating employers.

Last year, 146 students participated, more than double the 70 who were in the initial class of 1998. There were 92 employers participating in the summer of 2000— also a record.

Students are paid $7 an hour and usually work between 25 and 35 hours a week. The summer internships last between 6 and 8 weeks. Students also participate in a labor market overview, social events and receive employment assistance after they graduate from college. The program targets college juniors and seniors. The pre-application deadline is April 1.

"I want to salute our county Board of Legislators for their support of this program, and also our employers who are helping us to build a program that will allow us to serve as many young people as possible," said Eannace.

Student pre-applications are matched with employer requests. Students selected for the program will begin hearing if they are accepted starting in February.