Internships

Connecting Classroom to Careers

Partnering with the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education, NEXTDC offers year-round and summer internships that connect students to the travel and tourism industry to build their professional skills and expand professional networks.

Since 2015, NEXTDC has hosted over 175 interns through the Career Ready and Advanced Internship Programs here in Washington, DC. And helped hundreds more secure internships with employers across the city!

Summer Internships

Career Ready Internships help high school juniors explore careers and get their first professional working experience.

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Year-Round Internships

The Advanced Internship Program pairs high school seniors with year-round internships to prepare for what's NEXT.

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Alumni Internships

Academy alumni return as college students to build their professional skills and pass on knowledge to their high school colleagues.

Meet Our 2026 College Interns

"NEXTDC gave me the opportunity to show up as my authentic self. I connected with people who supported me, offered guidance and truly want to see the next generation succeed.”

– Micah Bracey
Jackson-Reed High School

Meet our CRI Interns

"My internship helped me connect with so many different people from all careers and backgrounds. Having these kinds of great experiences has made me more confident in myself and my future. I know I have an entire city rooting for my success.”

- John "JT" Thompson
Ballou High School

Meet our AIP interns

"Through my NEXTDC internship experience, I learned how important it is to build connections with people who can guide and inspire you and the value of putting yourself in rooms and spaces that can transform your life."

- Ty Monroe
Coolidge High School
Wake Forest University

"Coming back as a college student allowed me to build on the hands-on experience I first gained in high school. It’s one thing to love your city, but it’s another way to learn how to showcase its soul with intention and impact."

- Makayla Cruz
Columbia Heights EC
North Carolina A&T

Meet our College Interns

Meet our 2026 College Interns

This summer, NEXTDC welcomed back two of our 2025 Advanced Interns as college students, Malijah Jackson and Shamiyah McGee. Learn more about what they did this summer and how it helped them grow as professionals.

Read their story

Meet our 2026 Career Ready Interns

Over six weeks this summer, 12 Career Ready Interns discovered more about what makes their hometown of Washington, DC so special. From networking with executives and founders to going behind the scenes of iconic institutions, interns expanded their worldview and discovered career possibilities across several industries.

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Students posing and smiling in hotel lobby

Explore NYC with our 2026 Advanced Interns

As the culminating project of their year-long Advanced Internship Program, our 2025-26 interns were challenged to develop a work-based learning travel experience. The trip had to include educational programming to learn more about the hospitality, tourism, and media industries as well as fit everything into a set budget.

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