On May 19, partners celebrated Region 2’s Top 50 Interns and Top Employers of Interns, highlighting outstanding achievements and the impact of internship programs across the region. The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) recognizes employers who provide high-quality internship experiences to college students, and this year, also recognized top-performing interns.

Held at the Train Station Event Venue in Roanoke, Virginia, awardees celebrated, networked, and enjoyed breakfast with other employers, colleges and universities, and workforce and economic development boards in the region. 

This regional event precedes a statewide celebration of Virginia Intern Day, which will take place on July 30 in Richmond, VA.

Top Employers for Interns included:

  • Branch
  • Brown Edwards & Company, L.L.P
  • Virginia Tech - Campus internEXP
  • Carilion Clinic
  • Cloudfit Software
  • City of Roanoke
  • Delta Star Inc.
  • Framatome
  • The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
  • Retirement Unlimited, Inc.
  • Robertson Marketing Group
  • Southern Air, Inc.
  • Triple Point Security
  • Virginia Amateur Sports, Inc.

Top 50 student interns included:

  • Stella Bryant, Virginia Tech student and intern with the City of Roanoke
  • Kathryn Buzik, Roanoke College student and intern with Carilion Clinic
  • Katrina Finch, Hollins University student and intern with Berglund Center, winner of the Influencer Award
  • Shaelyn Frey, Liberty University student and intern with Delta Star, Inc.
  • Grace Jarman, Liberty University student and intern with Southern Air, Inc.
  • Cody Safewright, Radford University student and intern with Triple Point Security, winner of the Creative Award

The event was hosted by the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP):

  • Jama Coartney, Program Manager for V-TOP, Virginia Tech Career and Professional Development
  • Matthew Cowley, V-TOP Institutional Led Partnership Principal Investigator and Associate Vice Provost at Virginia Tech
  • Barb Reibsamen, Program Coordinator for GO Virginia Region 2 and the V-TOP Institution Led Partnership, Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement
  • Carolyn Sutphin, Associate for Innovative Work-Based Learning Initiatives, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia 

Carolyn Sutphin speaks at breakfast

Carolyn Sutphin, Associate for Innovative Work-Based Learning Initiatives, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia