Tampa Bay Employers Open Doors: Think Big Students Explore Careers Through Summer Internships

This summer, Think Big for Kids partnered with five incredible companies—Accenture, Appspace, Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, Tampa General Hospital and Trenam—to provide 50 students, ages 15 to 22, with paid internships. These opportunities gave high schoolers through postgraduates hands-on experience, helping them explore career paths, gain professional skills and build lasting networks.

Our interns came from across Think Big’s community of partners, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, Arts Conservatory for Teens, Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School and Friendship Christian Academy, as well as from our pool of Think Big scholarship recipients. Together, they showed what’s possible when talent meets opportunity.

By the numbers: 86% of interns rated their overall experience as excellent, and 100% would recommend Think Big to a friend.

Real-World Experience with Corporate Partners

Accenture

Through Accenture’s Learning to Lead (L2L) program, high school students spent six weeks sharpening professional skills. Their capstone projects, in partnership with companies like Disney, Raymond James and Jabil, highlighted teamwork, creativity and resilience

Intern Insights:

• “I learned the importance of confidence and networking effectively.”
• “If it wasn’t for Accenture, I don’t think I’d be as talkative or know how to share my ideas.”
• “I am now considering a career in consulting.”

College-level interns also thrived through Accenture’s Skills to Succeed program:

• Jose, a Think Big scholarship recipient, discovered a passion for cybersecurity and is switching his major at HCC.
• Jazmin, also a scholarship recipient, gained hands-on experience in compliance and access management, building valuable skills in computer science and problem-solving.

Appspace

Dalila returned for her second summer at Appspace, where she worked in Customer Success Operations and Data Analytics. Dalila is a 2022 Think Big Expect More scholarship recipient. She attends Florida Atlantic University, where she majors in International Business.

Intern Insights:

• “This experience has been invaluable in developing my career readiness and preparing me for the professional world. Working with Appspace’s global team has significantly expanded my skill set and perspective on international business operations.”

Grow Financial

At Grow Financial’s Ybor City headquarters, interns tackled real business challenges through projects such as “A Youthful Take on Enhancing Member Experience” and “Using AI to Improve Website Responsiveness.”

The objective of the internship was for the students to brainstorm and craft ideas to improve Grow Financial’s member experience, using a Gen Z perspective. The students collaborated in teams to design their improvements, ending in presentations to executive leadership.

Intern Insights:

• “The most valuable skill I learned was how important the member experience is.”
• “I feel like I’m a step ahead as I enter college for my degree in business and finance.”
• “Networking is crucial; it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

Tampa General Hospital

At  Tampa General Hospital (TGH), interns began in the Patient Transport Department. Based on student interest and career paths, they were then placed into other areas of the hospital for a more immersive experience, including the operating room, obstetrics, surgery, nursing assistance, patient care and human resources.

Intern Insights:

• “From checking patients out at the Departure Lounge, to being in the Emergency Department, to finally scrubbing in and learning in the OR—I’ve learned so much more than I ever imagined. This opportunity didn’t just teach me about healthcare—it showed me the power of mentorship, trust, and community.”
• “It has made me more open-minded about the different circumstances patients can come from.”
• “This internship has changed my future by giving me compassion for everyone, no matter what.”

Trenam

Aliyah is a 2023 recipient of the Think Business scholarship and a current student at BYU – Idaho. Under the guidance of her mentor, attorney Sheryl Hunter, Aliyah was introduced to several practices within the law firm. The highlight of her internship included working in the Business Transactions group, where she developed an M&A document to support Trenam’s attorneys.

Intern Insights:

• “It was a great experience that helped put into perspective what life is like as a lawyer in a large firm, and what I might have to look forward to in my future career. I’m thankful to Sheryl Hunter and the team at Trenam for welcoming me in and letting me be a part of the team.”

Looking Ahead

These internships were more than summer jobs—they were stepping stones toward brighter futures. Students walked away with new skills, mentors and clarity about their career paths. For many, the experience was transformative, shaping not only their resumes but also their confidence and aspirations.

As Think Big continues to grow, we remain committed to expanding opportunities like these so that every student has the chance to explore, learn, and launch into a career they love.