More than 930 students from 95 schools across the San Antonio region have applied to the greater:SATX and SA WORX Summer Internship Program, sending a clear signal that the region’s next generation of talent is ready to engage in the workforce.
That level of demand reflects more than student ambition. It reflects a region that is intentionally building pathways from education to employment and preparing young people for real careers.
Now, the next step is clear. If San Antonio is going to sustain its economic momentum, employer participation in internships must keep pace with student readiness.
Internships are no longer a nice‑to‑have. They are a core workforce strategy.
By hosting paid high school interns through SA WORX, employers gain early access to motivated, local talent while helping students understand workplace expectations and explore career pathways. These experiences allow employers to introduce students to their industry, observe skills in real time, and begin developing future employees well before graduation. Just as importantly, internships help young people see a future for themselves in San Antonio, strengthening long‑term retention in an increasingly competitive labor market.
This year marks the 11th annual SA WORX High School Summer Internship Program. SA WORX, the workforce development arm of greater:SATX, focuses on strengthening the regional talent pipeline by engaging students in work‑based learning beginning in high school. For more than a decade, the program has operated at scale across the region.
Since 2015, SA WORX has served more than 53,000 young San Antonians, engaged over 1,200 employers, partnered with 19 school districts, and generated more than $7 million in cumulative youth wages through its internship programs alone. Employers across industries, including financial services, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, bioscience, and research, have participated over the years, with organizations such as USAA, Southwest Research Institute, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, VelocityTX, BioBridge Global, Credit Human, and Toyota demonstrating how early engagement allows employers to meet talent sooner, assess fit over time, and build stronger long‑term workforce pipelines.
“SA WORX is about more than summer internships, it’s about building durable connections between education and employment,” said Josh Scott, Senior Vice President, Talent & Workforce at greater:SATX. “When employers engage early, they’re not just supporting students, they’re strengthening the long‑term talent pipelines our region depends on, while helping young people make informed choices about college and future careers.”
The 2026 SA WORX Summer Internship Program will run from June 15 through July 25, with employers hosting a minimum of two paid interns for approximately 20 hours per week, beginning at $12 per hour. Students participate in hands‑on projects, receive daily workplace exposure, and build foundational professional skills while contributing meaningful support to host organizations.
For employers, that structure creates more than a summer experience. Many organizations find that hosting high school interns becomes the beginning of a longer‑term talent relationship, with students returning later as college interns, part‑time employees, or full‑time hires. By engaging early, employers are able to observe skills, work ethic, and cultural fit well before graduation, reducing future recruiting costs and hiring uncertainty while strengthening long‑term workforce pipelines.
Two longtime partners, Southwest Research Institute and Methodist Healthcare Ministries, have participated since the program’s early years, highlighting the value employers see in early, consistent engagement with local talent.
“Understanding the value of engaging high school students in the world of work, Southwest Research Institute has been involved with SA WORX from the beginning,” said Tony Magaro, Vice President of Human Resources at Southwest Research Institute. “We recognize that our community thrives when we can depend on a workforce that meets employment needs. Workforce development is critical, and this program works as a pivot point and validation of a chosen career by our students.”
To support employers and students alike, SA WORX provides comprehensive, end‑to‑end assistance throughout the process. This includes student outreach across regional schools, access to an internship platform to post opportunities and review applicants, supervisor orientation and best‑practice guidance, structured student onboarding, ongoing professional development, and an end‑of‑summer showcase celebrating shared success. Optional payroll and employer‑of‑record support is also available.
With more than 930 students ready to contribute, the talent pipeline is not a future concern, it is a present opportunity.
Hosting interns through SA WORX isn’t just good for students. It’s smart workforce strategy for San Antonio’s future.