ATHERTON, Calif. — Menlo College has been awarded $10,000 through Parker Dewey’s SIGNALS Micro-Internship Program, creating 30 new paid Micro-Internship opportunities for students to gain professional experience through short-term, real-world projects with employers.
The award will support 30 Micro-Internships, each consisting of 15 hours of project-based work with participating employers. Led by Menlo College’s Internship and Career Services team within the Office of Student Affairs, the program is scheduled to run from September 1, 2026, through March 1, 2027.
The initiative advances Menlo College’s commitment to preparing students to be Future Ready Now by connecting classroom learning with meaningful professional experiences. Through Micro-Internships, students can apply what they are learning at Menlo to real employer projects while developing practical skills, exploring career paths, and building professional connections.
“This opportunity gives our students another way to turn what they are learning at Menlo into meaningful professional experience,” said LaShonda Kennedy, Executive Director of Career Services and Student Engagement at Menlo College. “Micro-Internships allow students to work on real projects, demonstrate their skills to employers, and gain greater confidence as they prepare for internships and careers.”
Building Experience Through Micro-Internships
Unlike traditional internships that may span an entire semester or summer, Micro-Internships are short-term professional projects that allow students to complete defined assignments for employers while gaining hands-on experience.
Through the SIGNALS program, Menlo students will have access to projects with employers selected as part of the College’s program. Parker Dewey will work with Menlo College to provide consultation, marketing resources, administrative support, and payment to participating students throughout the initiative.
Together, the 30 funded Micro-Internships will provide Menlo students with 450 hours of professional, project-based experience. For participating organizations, the program offers an opportunity to engage with Menlo students while receiving support on meaningful projects.
Creating Pathways From College to Career
The SIGNALS Micro-Internship Program complements Menlo College’s broader emphasis on experiential learning and career preparation. Internships, project-based learning, employer engagement, and career development provide students with opportunities to connect their academic experiences with the skills, relationships, and professional experience they will need after graduation.
“Experiential learning is an essential part of a Menlo education,” said Alexa Breault, Associate Director of Future Ready Pathways at Menlo College. “Opportunities like these provide students with direction when it comes to identifying what pathways they would like to pursue.”
Menlo College and Parker Dewey will work together to finalize the program’s goals, structure, student and employer participation criteria, project details, and outreach strategy ahead of the planned September launch.
All 30 SIGNALS-funded Micro-Internships are expected to be awarded to students by March 1, 2027, with participating employers marking projects complete no later than April 1, 2027.
Media inquiries: pr@menlo.edu
About Menlo College
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College is a small, residential liberal arts and business college dedicated to preparing students to be Future Ready Now. Through a highly personalized educational experience that combines rigorous academics, applied learning, mentorship, and direct access to one of the world’s most innovative economies, Menlo College helps students convert education into measurable career and life outcomes. For more information, please visit our website or contact pr@menlo.edu
