CHAPEL HILL – Fifty-two students from 10 of North Carolina’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been selected to participate in the North Carolina Governor’s HBCU Internship Program this summer.

The program, which began in 2015, connects students who are enrolled in North Carolina’s HBCUs with the state’s Fortune 250 companies to allow them to gain valuable work experience that will increase their competitiveness in the job market, while allowing state businesses to recruit from an increased, diverse talent pool. Studies show that seven in 10 internships turn into full-time jobs.

North Carolina is home to 13 percent of the nation’s HBCUs, including five in the University of North Carolina system. All five University HBCUs – Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University and Winston-Salem State University – are participating in the program, as are Bennett College, Saint Augustine’s University, Livingstone College, Shaw University and Johnson C. Smith University.

“The North Carolina Governor’s HBCU Internship Program has become an important resource for the state’s HBCU students to gain valuable experience while working at some of North Carolina’s top companies,” said UNC System President Margaret Spellings. “These internships often translate into future job opportunities for the participants, while giving North Carolina employers the opportunity to recruit from a more diverse, better-trained group of college graduates.”

Students are paid $10 an hour for 40 hours a week for 10 weeks, running from May 18 to August 12. Participating students must be rising juniors or seniors, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8, are active in student and national organizations, have the ability to communicate well, and familiarity with common software platforms.

This year’s corporate partners are: Aramark, Bank of America, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Century 21, Cisco, DRS Technologies, Duke Energy, Financial Capital, GP Supply Company, Growth Management Services, Loring Corporation, Harrah’s Resort, Heery International, Herbalife, NC Mutual Life Insurance, Millennium Sports Group, NC Mutual, O2 Fitness, One Accord Service, Red Hat, RTI, Skanska, Subject2Change, TIAA, United Way, Wells Fargo, VistaBution, and Xerox.