RVC-Partnerships-with-Local-Employers-Empower-Student-Success.php

RVC Partnerships with Local Employers Empower Student Success

• Students
• 06/23/2025

Rock Valley College’s partnership with Accelerated Machine Design and Engineering gives students more than just internships, it gives them a chance to grow and discover what they are capable of.

Thanks to the Illinois Cooperative Work Study Grant, students like Conner Lee and Connor Laga have gotten the chance to take on real responsibilities, learn new skills, and get a better idea of what they might want to do in the future.

Through the Illinois Cooperative Work Study grant, Rock Valley is able to subsidize paid internships at companies that wouldn’t normally be able to host such an opportunity for RVC students. Paid internships are among the most effective measures for smoothing the transition between the classroom and the workforce, and companies in critical industries benefit from tapping into our impressive talent pool. RVC has seen tremendous success in partnering with companies like Accelerated Design and Machine Engineering, who provide real job experience. Alexander Luft, director of career services shares, “It has been a joy to work with the team at Accelerated. They care deeply about their interns, as they level-set expectations to fit each student. And they give the interns credible career guidance and exploration; they know that taking the time to train an intern might not have an immediate direct impact, but they understand how far it goes in supporting a skilled, engaged and stable workforce that can help Rockford industries step up to the challenges of the future. I wish every RVC student had the chance to work at a place like Accelerated Design and Machine

Engineering.”

Both Conner Lee and Connor Laga have had standout experiences at Accelerated. Conner Lee is beginning what appears to be a promising career in engineering. At Accelerated, he was able to break into a tight-knit engineering team and take on more responsibility than anyone anticipated. Plus, he got to focus his efforts on some highly complex machinery in a way that will make him more confident in future projects. For Connor Laga, this internship was not only a chance to develop skills but also a real exploratory experience. He says, “You don’t really understand the day-in and day-out of a job until you do it.”He got to learn what he likes and doesn’t like about Customer Relationship Management platforms, marketing research, and design. He embraced the philosophy of diving into a role fully even while he’s still figuring out his specific career path.

A big part of this comes from Allie Palmer, Accelerated’s marketing manager. She’s involved with helping the interns grow. “When I was in college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she shared. “So, I try to give our interns different chances to figure that out- whether it’s editing videos, managing a project, or working on campaigns.” She strongly believes in giving them the freedom to explore, make mistakes, and learn through experience. She also talked about how important it is to check in regularly and offer suggestions, while keeping the environment creative. “It’s a great program,” Allie said. “It helps the students, it helps the school, and it helps us. I honestly don’t know why more companies wouldn’t want to be part of it.”The Illinois Cooperative Work Study grant partnership shows what happens when local businesses and schools work together, and how internships can help students take their next big step.

RVC is excited to continue its partnership with Accelerated, where another intern is set to begin this summer. Rock Valley also supports paid internships at several other companies, including SupplyCore and Caldwell. RVC remains committed to expanding these opportunities and is actively exploring new partnerships with businesses interested in accessing the college’s strong talent network through this impactful program.