GM Student Corps Expands to Include Flint

The GM Student Corps kicked off its second year today, expanding the summer internship program to include a new team of 10 students from Flint Southwestern Classical Academy high school.

 

General Motors made the announcement at the annual meeting of the Flint and Genesee Chamber of Commerce.

 

This year’s Student Corps will provide 120 Detroit-area and Flint students from 12 high schools with paid internships and the opportunity to give back to their neighborhoods. Teams of 10 students from each school will select and complete community service projects throughout the summer, supported by GM retiree mentors and GM interns from the University of Detroit Mercy. Student Corps in Detroit is an extension of GM’s partnership with United Way’s Network of Excellence Schools.

 

Once again, the teams will tackle restoration, repair, landscaping and cleanup projects at neighborhood parks and schools, developing teamwork, leadership skills and a service mindset. All of this year’s high school students are new to the program. The teams are selecting their projects now; work begins in mid-June and concludes in mid-August.

 

“Last year, the bright young people in the GM Student Corps learned valuable skills that will help them succeed as professionals and citizens, and many of them told us it was a life-changing experience,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “Expanding the program to Flint reflects our deep commitment to the city and its people. We look forward to seeing what these terrific students will accomplish.”

 

Former GM executive and University of Detroit Mercy economics professor Mike DiGiovanni returns to co-lead the retiree mentors with retired GM executive Larry Hice, who participated in the Student Corps first year in 2013.

 

While Student Corps serves as the first paid job for many of the students, it offers more than work experience; it is a comprehensive professional development program. Students will work with their mentors to manage all aspects of their projects, from budgeting, planning, problem solving and execution. Students also attend a financial planning seminar, engage in life-skills sessions about topics such as decision making and resume writing. They tour GM facilities and UDM for exposure to a variety of career and educational opportunities.