The Village School Internship Program Achieves Record Growth
- Guest Writer
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Welcomes Naples Leader Dr. Brian Wallace as Ambassador
The Village School of Naples (TVS) is preparing its upper school students for life beyond college by dramatically expanding its impactful Internship Program, which is now heading into its third year with a surge in student participation and community support.
At TVS, the belief is simple: real-world experiences today prepare students for tomorrow. The program is giving students a critical edge, allowing them to explore careers from medicine and law to design, technology, and business before they even graduate.
A Year of Extraordinary Expansion
The growth of the program in just one year has been described as “extraordinary” by Internship Program Director Mike Wexler.
Student participation soared by 150%, jumping from 12 students to 30.
Community internship opportunities more than doubled, increasing from 23 to 53.
“The growth is a testament to the dedication of our students and the strong support of our community,” said Wexler. “Our mission is to trailblaze career readiness at an early juncture and inspire students to think big picture as they navigate their high school years.”
Esteemed Physician Dr. Brian Wallace Named Ambassador
To further solidify its commitment to real-world learning, TVS proudly named Dr. Brian Wallace, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at the Joint Replacement Institute and father of two TVS students, as the official Internship Program Ambassador.
A longtime mentor to TVS interns, Dr. Wallace is deeply committed to the program’s philosophy: “See one, do one, teach one.”
“It is a true privilege to mentor young minds who are genuinely curious and eager to learn,” said Dr. Wallace. “This program effectively bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, and I’m proud to help TVS lead this vital effort.”
Hands-On Success Stories
The impact on students is immediate and profound. This summer, student Cruze Craig interned with Adelyn Charles Interiors. “The experience showed me how much effort goes into every project, from marketing meetings to client planning,” said Craig.
Another Knight, Sting Gonzalez, gained hands-on experience in IT at Barron Collier Companies, demonstrating the variety of high-caliber professional settings available to TVS students.
Naples Community: Invest in the Next Generation
TVS is actively seeking to expand its network of community mentors and partners. Businesses and professionals in the Naples area are invited to join the Internship Program Alliance by offering job shadowing or internship opportunities. Even a few hours of mentorship can be a life-changing experience for a student.
“We are grateful to every partner who invests in the next generation of leaders,” added Wexler. “Together, we are preparing our Knights not just for college, but for life.”