Five Southcoast Companies Join MA STEM@Work Program

Massachusetts Secretary of Education Jim Peyser visited New Bedford Monday to announce five Southcoast companies have signed on to participate in MA STEM@Workto engage high school students in the career fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). 

Southcoast Health System, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, HTP Inc., and Five Star Companies will begin offering internships to students this summer.

After a tour of Five Star Companies in New Bedford's Business Park, Peyser said the MA STEM@Work initiative helps expose students to different career opportunities.

"We're trying to expand the number of companies that are taking students, in particular from high schools, to come into paid internships that are specifically related to the STEM fields and that hopefully can connect them to opportunities and careers they wouldn't otherwise be exposed to," Peyser said

There are currently more than 50 Southcoast companies providing internship opportunities in the STEM fields, though Supt. Pia Durkin said she hopes to see that number continue to increase.

Many of the internships align with New Bedford High School's career academies and get students more involved on a practical level.

"It's part of a more integrated pathway program that moves students from maybe just a little bit of interest in a career in STEM to actually being able to pursue that dream," said Peyser.

Governor Charlie Baker's STEM Advisory Council is working with the Massachusetts School to Career Connecting Activities system to identify and develop more STEM internship opportunities to be available this coming spring and summer.