It is with joy that we announce our two high school interns will soon be graduating from Mentor High School and departing from Rogers to pursue academic and professional growth at Cleveland State University (CSU) in the fall.

For nearly a decade, The Rogers Company has partnered with the Lake Shore Compact, a career technical organization serving the Mentor, Euclid and Wickliffe school districts. Lake Shore Compact helps prepare high school students for college, technical school or a career of their choosing. To date, Rogers has supported twelve interns in the Marketing and Business Administration (MBA) and Construction Management programs.

The program has recently recognized Rogers for its contributions to workforce development, and we are proud to continue our efforts this past year with Daniela Ortiz and Robert Pruitt from the MBA program.

Daniela and Robert have been assisting the Rogers team with various tasks after school for the past ten months. By working within multiple departments, these interns are exposed to all sides of the business and gain a well-rounded experience of working in a professional setting.

“The MBA internships provide unique opportunities for students to learn and grow in a real-world work environment,” explains the senior class MBA instructor Drew McKnight. “Perhaps without even realizing it, these students are differentiating themselves from their peers at a very young age with these work experiences and setting themselves up for opportunities for success in the future.”

Robert has assisted the graphic design, accounting, logistics and sales teams with their daily tasks. “Being able to gain up-close experience, especially in the many different departments, helps give me perspective and a sense of direction for my career moving forward,” Robert comments.

Similarly, Daniela has been working in areas that align with her career interests, including marketing and sales. She notes how the internship increased her confidence and proactivity and gave her solid professional experience. “My favorite part about the internship was the people I got to come in and work with every day,” Daniela reflects. “They are such hardworking and talented people who helped me grow personally and professionally along the way, and I will never forget that!”

Upon graduation this spring, Robert plans to attend CSU on a full-ride scholarship to study accounting and become a CPA. Daniela will also be attending CSU and, although she is undecided, she is leaning toward marketing and communications.

“Supporting Mentor High School’s CTE program is a strategic initiative for Rogers,” states Rick Busby, President of The Rogers Company. “We are 100% behind the development of these students while also leveraging their skill sets to support our business initiatives.”

The Rogers team is proud to collaborate with the Lake Shore Compact and make an impact on the next generation of business leaders. We are looking forward to continuing our partnership with the program in the future.