9 Internships for High School Students in Kansas
If you’re a high school student, doing an internship can be a good way to explore your interests and get a glimpse into future careers. These internships for high schoolers in Kansas are an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop practical skills, and build connections. Whether you’re operating machinery at a local manufacturing plant or exploring environmental science, these internships allow you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
In addition to providing hands-on learning, internships allow you to explore different fields before choosing a college major. They can also enhance your college applications, showing admissions officers you are proactive, curious, and prepared for success. In today’s competitive academic and job markets, internships can provide an early advantage.
Here’s a list of 9 internships for high school students in Kansas to consider!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Learning Club Teaching Internship program offers high school students in Kansas City, Kansas, a chance to explore teaching as a career while contributing to their community. You will spend one day a week tutoring younger students in subjects like homework, reading, writing, and math. You will also serve as a mentor, motivating children to give back. In addition to providing academic support, you will create a safe and positive student environment. This program is a great opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience while helping others succeed.
Location: Learning Club, Kansas City, KS
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend of $20
Program Dates: Mid-September
Application Deadline: N/A
Eligibility: High school students
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Location: VirtualCost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
The STAR 2.0 Program offers high school students a research experience at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Research Institute. You will collaborate with the Children’s Mercy faculty on original research projects, gaining experience in clinical and translational research. Throughout the program, you will develop a research publication for submission to a peer-reviewed journal and learn about research methodology, medical ethics, statistics, and career development. Networking opportunities with other students and educators are also part of the experience.
Location: Children’s Mercy Research Institute, Kansas City, KS
Cost No cost; students receive a stipend of $2,600
Program Dates: June 16 – July 24
Application Deadline: January 2025
Eligibility: Freshman, junior, and sophomore high school students from underrepresented communities
The STAHR Scholars Program allows students to explore health careers and strengthen their applications for health professional education programs. The program will deepen your interest in healthcare and provide the skills and knowledge needed to become competitive applicants. Free for all students, the program runs from May or June through the following April, offering financial support through stipends or scholarships. You can join the program as early as the summer before your junior year of high school and continue through college as you prepare for health professional programs.
Location: University of Missouri, Kansas City, KS
Cost: No cost
Program Dates: Usually between June – July
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
The Accelerate Cancer Education (ACE) program is a summer research initiative for high school students in Wyandotte County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri. This program aims to provide participants interested in biomedical fields with hands-on learning experiences in oncology. It exposes you to various career paths within cancer research. Through comprehensive training, ACE equips you with valuable insights into biomedical careers.
Cost: Students receive a stipend
Location: KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: TBA
Eligibility: High school students living in Wyandotte County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri
The Youth Registered Apprenticeship program is a work-based learning initiative that helps students gain academic and practical workplace skills. Through this program, you will receive paid, on-the-job training alongside supplemental technical instruction, which counts towards high school graduation requirements. The program is designed to help you secure full-time employment in a Registered Apprenticeship after high school. The program is competency-based, meaning students work part-time, typically between 5 and 18 hours per week.
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend
Location: Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship, Kansas
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Dates: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to students older than 16
The Nex-Gen Round Up for Youth Internship Program connects high school students with local businesses in northwest and north-central Kansas. The program offers work-study opportunities during the school year and paid internships during the summer. This program helps students gain real-world experience, develop professional skills, and explore career options. These internships play a key role in encouraging youth to stay in rural communities by fostering connections that contribute to long-term community growth and retention.
Cost: No cost; students receive a scholarship of $500
Location: Lenora, KS
Application Deadline: September 30 for the Fall Semester; February 28 for the Spring Semester
Program Dates: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school and college students (ages 16 and up) who live in or attend school in one of the following 28 Kansas counties are eligible to apply: Barton, Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, and Wallace
This program engages students ages 11-18 in service projects that focus on developing important life and work skills. You can participate in various projects throughout the year, including during the summer, and choose from short-term (1-2 hours) and longer-term projects. Once you sign up, you will be placed in teams with 8-10 other students to work under the guidance of a trained adult staff member. The team leader facilitates team-building activities and reflection sessions. Through hands-on projects like constructing houses, preparing meals for shelters, and organizing community events, you will gain skills that are transferable to future jobs.
Cost: No cost
Location: Kansas City, KS
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: Varies based on the program
Eligibility: Students aged 11-18
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.