Opening Doors for Students Through the Supported Success Internship Program
Posted Thursday, August 7, 2025 4:56 pm
What if we designed internships not just for the students already succeeding, but for the ones who haven’t imagined themselves having those kinds of opportunities? That’s the idea behind the Supported Success Internship Program (SSIP) – an initiative rooted in equity that connects high school students with meaningful, real-world work experiences in our community.
SSIP was developed through Ngage NM and the Kinder-Career Coalition, one of two coalitions under the Success Partnership, which brings together agencies, educators, families, and leaders in Doña Ana County working to support children and families, prenatal through career. The internship program was piloted in Spring 2025 with a small cohort of juniors and seniors from Mayfield High School, and thanks to strong outcomes and growing community support, it is expanding this year to include Organ Mountain High School.
What makes SSIP different? For one, it’s designed to reach students who are often left out of traditional internship opportunities due to various barriers for example: students in families navigating economic hardship, students with IEPs (Individualized Education Plans), and English Language Learners. Participating students are paid, supported by school-based liaisons, a designated mentor-coach, and matched with local partners who understand that mentorship and growth go hand in hand.
The spring pilot proved what many educators and community advocates already believed: when given the opportunity, these students rise to the occasion and flourish. One intern shared, “This is my first job so this was very helpful and special,” while another reflected, “I feel more comfortable talking to people and I feel more confident in myself.” A student who once said, “College isn’t for me, that’s not something that’s for our people,” later stood at the end-of-semester banquet and announced plans to apply to community college. As one coach put it, “Something did shift in that kiddo. Those are the huge successes – seeing the growth.”
One supervisor described their intern as “an incredible asset to the team.” Another noted that the experience “helped us reflect on how we can be more intentional in creating youth-friendly workspaces.” Students echoed that sentiment: “I would like future employers to view me as someone worth mentoring and teaching, rather than simply being a worker.”
The success of this pilot wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration. Teachers and staff at Mayfield High School – including Principal Eric Fraass, Special Education teacher Ms. Branch, and Enlace teacher Mr. Morales – played a key role in identifying, guiding, and supporting participating students throughout the internship experience. Local nonprofit Casa de Peregrinos provided structured, meaningful placements that gave interns a chance to contribute while learning real skills. And behind the scenes, the Kinder-Career Coalition and Ngage NM worked to remove barriers, streamline communication, and support students every step of the way.
SSIP momentum is set to double in size this year – expanding both the number of students served and the depth of community involvement. One of the major goals is to shift the internship experience into the school day, so students don’t have to choose between learning and other responsibilities like part-time work or family care. The team is also working with schools to explore ways that internship hours could count toward graduation credit.
It’s not just about student success – though that’s at the heart of it. SSIP is about building a community where every young person has a pathway forward, and where employers and educators see students for their strengths and potential. As one intern put it, “I feel way more confident in my work ethic.”
If you’re a business, nonprofit, or community leader interested in becoming an internship site or supporting this work, we invite you to reach out. Our students are ready to show up – let’s meet them with open doors.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Supported Success Internship Program, contact Marisa DeWolf, Kinder-Career Coalition Coordinator at marisa@ngagenm.org or (575) 521-1957.