Mercy Works

SYNERGY Program

Synergy is a seven-week professional development program that provides goal-oriented college students with an opportunity to gain hands-on, paid work experience, build their profession network and life skills that will benefit them and the Central New York workforce. Synergy trainees are assigned to employment sites related to their field of study.

The 2010 SYNERGY interns had a new experience this summer which will likely lay the foundation for the internship program in the future. With many rallying to contribute to the program’s success and longevity, the interns participated for the first time in Upstate Medical University’s largest acceptance of interns to date, as well as a new community project initiative based off of the reality show, The Apprentice.

This year there were over 70 applicants alone who applied for the program opportunity, and due to the state budget, our partners, CNY Works was only able to help fund 8 of the interns compared to the 20 from last year. With more students on their way from high school, going into their first-year at a higher education institution and upper classman seeking to gain a spot in the program, only the top 40 of the applicants were interviewed.

From the top 40, to the last 25 standing, students participated in a few firsts with the program. See what some of the firsts were below:

• Group vs. group competition to see who could put on the best community event based of Donald Trump’s show, The Apprentice.
• Some of the brightest high school students in Central New York graduating and jumping right into the program with students already enrolled in colleges and universities.
• Celebrity judges to help determine the success of each group, evaluating skills like creativity, originality, cohesion, and more.

Students experience an equipping orientation week made up of leadership and workforce development training taught by local professionals. Insight comes from leaders within the community. After the orientation week, students report to their internship sites to begin the learning experience for the remaining six weeks. There were future freshman, upperclassmen and mentors who contributed to making this program something that people are continuing to support and recognize.

Every Friday, after spending half of their workday at their internship sites, the SYNERGY interns came together, met with their groups, and if a fly on the wall could talk, all it would say is “I saw two teams working together, challenging each other and ultimately, I saw growth throughout the past seven weeks.” The program is only going to get better.

In addition to gaining valuable, hands-on work experience Synergy trainees:

• Will explore career options, complete vision and mission statements, create a personal constitution and set realistic goals
• Demonstrate an increase in public speaking and networking skills
• Gain confidence and competence in their field through increased knowledge, skills and the mastery of meaningful activity
• Gain a sense of connection to the local community
• Have a sense of contribution through their participation in the service project as well as through their experience in their various leadership roles
• Will have increased confidence in the professional arena and have developed connections to local professionals

Synergy Program Partners:

• CNY Works
• OnPoint for College
• SUNY Upstate

Previous Workplace Partners have included:

• SUNY Upstate
• NYS Attorney General’s Office
• National Grid
• Clear Channel
• Syracuse City School District
• Syracuse University
• Associated Architects
• LJR Engineering

Please contact us at Mercy Works with any questions you may have, as well as applying for the SYNERGY program

Listing of internships available through Synergy and UPSTATE Medical University