Surry-Yadkin WORKS is a program that provides paid internships for students with local businesses to gain real-world experience and education credits. Its mission is to support regional economic vitality by matching interns with employers. Interns complete a 4+ month part-time commitment that extends classroom learning and introduces them to modern workplace equipment and problems while granting possible future employment opportunities. Through partnerships with area schools and Surry Community College, interns receive training, industry credentials, and enrollment in career-focused courses.

1. For more information contact:
Crystal Folger-Hawks, Program Director
folger-hawksc@surry.edu
336-401-7820
www.surryyadkinworks.org
What is Surry-Yadkin WORKS?
This is an opportunity for students to complete an internship in a local business, gain valuable real-world
experience, earn high school credit, college credit, industry-recognized credentials, and get paid.
Our Mission
The mission of Surry-Yadkin WORKS is to support the economic vitality of the region by matching interns
with business partners to meet the needs of the community. Elkin City Schools, Mount Airy City Schools,
Surry County Schools and Yadkin County Schools along with Surry Community College will prepare
students for work-based learning, assist with industry-recognized credentials, and aid in enrolling in career
and technical college courses. In addition, we will provide mutually beneficial links between students and
employers with the goal of increasing skilled workers in our community.
The Importance of Interns
An internship is a carefully monitored work
experience in which a student has intentional
learning goals and reflects actively on what he/she
is learning throughout the experience. Internship
circumstances vary widely. Common
characteristics include:
Creating an experience that is an extension of
the classroom.
A typical duration of 4 or more months.
A part-time commitment.
Paid or unpaid opportunities.
Connection to an educational program for
academic credit.
Student and Business Benefits
Introducing the intern to modern workplace
equipment and actual workplace problems.
Giving students access to experiences that require
more knowledge & skills than ordinary student jobs.
Providing educators and employers the chance to
work together in preparing students for success.
Granting students the opportunity to have a real
world experience in a career field.
Creating possible future opportunities for young
people at the internship and possible future
employees for companies that need them.
Reducing significant costs for employers who are
seeking new talent by evaluating prospective
employees while they are working.
Partnership with Surry Community College
Interns receive training and industry-recognized credentials through Surry
Community College. Training topics include Human Resource Development
(Soft Skills in Employer Expectations, Communication, Problem Solving, Time
Management), OSHA-10, Public Speaking, Basic Computer Skills, DiSC
Behavior Assessment, Introduction to LEAN, Personal Finance, and Job
Seeking Skills. Many interns are enrolled in college and career courses.