Since 2000, local technology companies and graduate students from the L.C. Smith
College of Engineering and Computer Science (LCS) at Syracuse University have
been reaping the benefits of the Renaissance Internship Program. On Oct. 15,
Syracuse University will host an event to celebrate the expanded Renaissance
Internship program, and recognize Assemblyman William Magnarelli's continued
support.
According to both students and employers, the program works. Anthony Fernando,
a civil engineering graduate student from Bombay, India, attributes his current full-
time employment at St. Germain & Aupperle Consulting, a local firm located in
Camillus, to the Renaissance program. He began working there part time in June
2007 under the CASE Co-op program. Upon graduation in May 2008, he became a
full-time employee at the firm. From January to May of 2007, Fernando was an
intern at CME Associates Inc., a geotechnical company based in Cicero.
"The Renaissance program has played a major role in my career and helped me
secure a full-time job in Central New York right after graduation," Fernando says.
"The program not only exposed me to real-world challenges while in college, it also
helped me know more about the companies and opportunities around Central New
York. I am happy that I could be part of such a great program and hope it continues
to help the future students at Syracuse University."
The Renaissance Internship program is now under the CASE Center Co-Op umbrella,
which offers students and employers alike more opportunities to benefit from each
other. It places graduate student interns at local technology companies in the cluster
areas of environmental systems, biomedical systems, electronics technologies,
manufacturing, information technology and software engineering. Over the years,
Assemblyman Magnarelli has secured $1 million in funding. Nearly 75 student
interns and 20 companies have participated in the program, and many students have
been offered permanent employment or have been kept on as interns once their
internship program concluded.
"The Renaissance Internship program allows Central New York firms to attract top-
level engineering students who are drawn to the area for higher education," says
Magnarelli. "It offers students the opportunity to gain real-world experience and
establish ties with local businesses."
Each student works up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and 30 hours
in the summer while maintaining a full academic schedule. They receive a premium
stipend, a full tuition scholarship and the experience of working on leading-edge
technology. In return, local employers are given access to talented graduate students
to assist with solutions to real business problems.
LCS Dean Laura J. Steinberg sees the importance of the program in developing and
keeping engineering talent in Central New York. "With its focus on recruiting and
retaining engineering professionals, the Renaissance Internship Program is providing
a means for addressing the shortage of engineers at numerous firms in Central New
York," says Steinberg. "We are extremely grateful to Assemblyman Magnarelli for
establishing this tremendous program for our graduate students and CNY businesses
alike."
Interns have been placed at numerous firms across the region, including Anaren,
Bank of New York Mellon, Bartell Machinery, Blue Highway LLC, Carrier Corp.,
CME Associates, C&S Companies, Dielectric Labs, Interactive Therapy Group,
National Grid, New Venture Gear (now Magna Powertrain), O'Brien & Gere, Philips
Broadband Networks Inc., PPC Inc., Sonnet Software Inc., Welch Allyn and
3iMobile.
Dielectric Labs (DLI) has participated in the Renaissance Internship Program for five
years and taken on eight interns, some of whom stayed on as interns after they
completed the program, says Cheryl Saunders, DLI's human resources manager.
One former intern is now a regular full-time employee. "Our experience with the
Renaissance Internship Program has been very positive. We are grateful to Syracuse
University for providing us with the interns, but even more grateful to Assemblyman
Magnarelli, who has been the driving force behind the funding of the program,"
Saunders says. "This is a program that provides students with valuable experience
and provides companies like DLI with access to those talented students."
"This program definitely helped us quickly hire our first seven student interns," says
Al DiRienzo, president and CEO of Blue Highway LLC. "Without the Renaissance
program, we would not have transitioned so smoothly into the necessary structure for
interviewing, hiring and handling payroll in a streamlined fashion. The Renaissance
program undoubtedly helped our company hire more student interns, and create
more new software products within months of our arrival on campus."
