Introduction

WELCOME STUDENTS

The City of Sioux Falls offers paid internships throughout the summer, providing mentoring, professional development and growth opportunities to students interested in a variety of careers. As one of the most diverse employers in Sioux Falls, we provide a wide array of settings for you to explore your interests, gain real world experience, and develop professional skills and competencies. We also value the new skills, innovative ways of thinking, and academic experience that students bring to our programs. In this way, our Ascend Internship Program is truly a partnership.

Program Overview

This internship is multi-faceted and includes the following pieces:
  • A full time mentor in your department
  • Meaningful projects for you to spearhead
  • Acquisition of career-specific skills
  • Weekly Intern Cohort networking opportunities and activities
  • Featured speakers dedicated to the Cohort with the opportunity for questions and answers
A brief overview of program requirements and other unanswered questions can be found in the “FAQ” section below.

Internship Testimonials

Erica Beck | Chief of Staff

"One of the most important experiences I had at my internship was meeting the team in the planning office, getting to know what they were passionate about and the type of impact they wanted to make on the City of Sioux Falls. My experience and interactions with the Planning team as an intern inspired my career path and led me to my current position."

Jacob Harris | Police Officer

During my internship with the Sioux Falls Police Department, I was able to see how the department functions and all of the cool things they get to do. I was able to experience many of the different sections of the department including narcotics, patrol and detectives. This experience helped me better understand law enforcement and determine how I wanted to shape my career. 

Adam Roach at service counter

Adam Roach | Urban Planner

Initially, my internship started off by me understanding the foundation of what’s needed to be an urban planner, but then it also opened up a network of different channels of individuals who have been through the urban planning department. It exposed me to the multitude of opportunities within my discipline which piqued my interest in government planning and development.

Jason Leach | Police Lieutenant

During my internship, I had several great experiences. I learned a lot about the police department, the different sections of the department, and what the department had to offer for me as a future employee. Now in my career, I work to build strong relationships with those I work with and also throughout other City departments.

Aileen Profir | Civic Analytics Specialist

"It was the opportunity to work, hands-on, in the professional environment testing my own abilities while learning from the experience of others in the office who have such a wealth of knowledge"

Jack Claussen | Firefighter

My internship shaped my career to the extent that I gained a greater understanding of the City of Sioux Falls’ organization. I saw how the importance of working with citizens and communicating is to the job of the city and how each of the departments interact with one another to fulfill their goals.