CCU RISE Internship Program

Partnership Grand Strand has partnered with Coastal Carolina University (CCU) to connect local businesses with top student talent looking for paid, career-building internships.

Local employers customize a job description that meets their specific needs and deploy the university experts to identify the best potential  students. Employers will then interview the top 2-3 candidates put forth by the university and make their selection. CCU takes care of all the administrative logistics (insurance, wages, etc.). The company that elects to take on a RISE intern agrees to make the experience as beneficial as possible for the student.

These internships are subsidized by Partnership Grand Strand, so getting a highly talented summer intern is very affordable.

At the conclusion of the internship, PGS hosts a graduation celebration, and the interns present their final sustainability reports developed in partnership with local businesses. This event marks the culmination of their summer internship experience and showcases the impactful work they accomplished in just a few short months.

In 2024, the RISE Internship Program celebrated a significant achievement in our first year: Of the twelve students who interned at area businesses, six students were offered employment after the internship concluded!

In 2025, fourteen students worked under the guidance of Dr. Pamela Martin, Executive Director of the RISE Center at CCU to maximize their potential and ensure a rewarding experience for both the interns and the employers. Dr. Martin announced that fifty percent of the interns received job offers from their employers.