Cushing Junior Chamber Program - Youth Workforce Development

Description

CUSHING JUNIOR CHAMBER PROGRAM
CREATING CUSHING'S YOUTH WORKFORCE PIPELINE 

A Workforce Development Program for High School Students (9th - 12th Grade Levels)
With an Internship/Mentorship Program for Senior Students
Hosted by Cushing Chamber of Commerce and Cushing Public Schools

THE CUSHING JUNIOR CHAMBER PROGRAM IS: 

⭐A Collaboration between the Cushing Chamber of Commerce and Cushing Public Schools, creating a workforce pipeline for our community

⭐An Investment in our student's future, our local workforce pipeline, and allows for scholarship opportunities for the senior students involved in the Internship portion of the Junior Chamber Program

⭐Hands-On Learning for CHS 9th - 12th Grade Students who are accepted into the program through monthly lunch & learns and specialized field trips.  Junior Chamber Lunch & Learns will be on the second Monday of each month, in the CHS Team Room, from Noon until 12:30 pm.  The Cushing Chamber will provide lunch for all Junior Chamber Students.  The first Lunch & Learn will be Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.  

These students understand that we, as adults and business leaders, are taking the time to invest in them, in their future.

The students have a monthly lunch at the high school where they learn about a variety of industries; what it takes to achieve a job in that Industry; and how they can do so someday. They also learn the importance of professionalism, resume building, interview skills and more. Junior Chamber members have the opportunity to volunteer within our community and are being connected to see exactly how our City of Cushing economy works: Learning the importance of sales tax and doing business here in the 74023.

The Cushing Chamber is assisting Cushing Public Schools in guiding these students to college, trade schools or the workforce after graduation. Life is not a cookie cutter. In offering this program, giving students the opportunity to hear from business leaders, volunteering and networking, we are creating a workforce pipeline for Cushing, all while instilling life/ business skills into these students before they head out into the real world.

INTERNSHIP AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Due to the partnerships that have been nurtured between the Cushing Chamber of Commerce, our local businesses and Cushing Public Schools, seniors enrolled in the Cushing Junior Chamber have the unique opportunity to intern, along with the chance to apply for a scholarship each May.

The senior members have the chance to intern with our local businesses and entities 2 or more hours per day during their school day, so that it does not interfere with work or extracurricular activities. While doing so, they are earning high school credit through the ICap program and our businesses are mentoring and filling a gap in employment.

We, as the Cushing Chamber, are assisting in creating future leaders while creating a workforce pipeline for our business community.

If your business would like to be part of our Senior Internship Program, please go to our website event page, fill out the application, read through the Business Orientation packet, and submit your application to: Tracy@cushingchamber.org .  The CHS Counselors will place the students in the participating businesses and will be the primary contacts.  The Cushing Chamber is the liaison between CHS and the business community, setting up the program; the CHS Counselors are the primary contacts after internship placement. 

https://www.cushingchamberofcommerce.org/cushing-junior-chamber-program/

HOW STUDENTS ARE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR JUNIOR CHAMBER PROGRAM:  Each school year, Junior Chamber Members are required to fill out a new application for acceptance. After acceptance, there will be an Orientation during their lunch hour. This spells out what to look forward to and what the expectations are. Aside from being Positive & Engaged, members are required to attend 6 of the 9 Lunch & Learn Meetings and Volunteer at 2 Chamber Events per year. Seniors wanting to intern at a local Chamber Member business will need to be in the Junior Chamber Program.

Applications are on our website Junior Chamber Event page, link above.

SPONSORSHIPS:  

In order for this program to work for our students and our business community, we need sponsorships.  We need businesses to participate in the Senior Internship Program and businesses to support the lunch & learns with sponsorships.  

If your business is a member of the Cushing Chamber & would like to sponsor our 2025 - 2026 Junior Chamber Program, please register your sponsorship on this event page by clicking the "Sponsorship registration" button on this page or call the Cushing Chamber office at 918-225-2400 or email Tracy@cushingchamber.org for more information.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2025-2026 SPONSORS!