University at Buffalo

Thirty-six UB students participated in the WNY Sophomore Externship Experience this summer - a program that matches local college sophomores with paid extern opportunities at Western New York's top companies. The externship program, run by the university's Startup and Innovation Collaboratory (CoLab), aims to prepare students for the workforce earlier in their college careers. It was funded by the Bryant Foundation in 2025 and the Prentice Family Foundation in 2024. Participating students earned $4,000, course credit and experience exploring career paths and opportunities throughout WNY. "As the proud host of the WNY Sophomore Externship Experience for the second year, UB is very pleased to see the maturation of the program and the transformative experiences it provides for WNY students," Provost A. Scott Weber says. "We are grateful to the Prentice Family Foundation and Bryant Foundation for their support of the program, and their investment in our future leaders and economic development in our region." A total of 76 students were selected to work with 33 host organizations for the second year of this program. In addition to UB students, the cohort also included sophomores from other Western New York universities, as well as college sophomores elsewhere, as long as they graduated from a local high school. View the full list of participating students and their placements.

Twenty-eight UB students participated in the WNY Sophomore Externship Experience this summer - a new program that matches local college sophomores with paid extern opportunities at Western New York's top companies. The new externship program, run by the Startup and Innovation Collaboratory (CoLab), is funded by the Prentice Family Foundation as part of its long working relationship with the university and allows students to start preparing for the workforce earlier in their college careers. Participating students earned $4,000, course credit and experience exploring career paths and opportunities throughout WNY. "The WNY Sophomore Externship Experience began as an idea to address important issues retaining more top talent in the region, better-preparing students with the social and technical skills they need for the current workforce," Provost A. Scott Weber says. "It helps students forge the connections and networks they need to be successful, and enables students to spend their summer gaining experience that will benefit their futures, regardless of their financial situation." A total of 47 students were selected as the first cohort of the program, which also allowed sophomores from other Western New York universities, as well as college sophomores elsewhere, as long as they graduated from a local high school. View the full list of participating students and their placements. The experience concluded July 31 with a celebration at Hayes Hall where the students could showcase what they learned working at one of two dozen companies and organizations across the Buffalo region. Watch this video to learn more about the WNY Sophomore Externship Experience.