2023 TopCity Interns Program Prepares To Kick Off, Topeka-Area Employers Encouraged to Take Part

GO Topeka and Forge Young Talent are excited to announce TopCity Interns is back for another summer of introducing college students and young professionals to all the capital city of Kansas has to offer. TopCity Interns programming for 2023 is scheduled to kick off June 1 with the program’s annual welcome event at the Topeka Zoo.

Area employers of all sizes that are looking to take their summer internship programs to the next level are encouraged to sign up to participate in TopCity Interns ahead of the kickoff event. Company participation allows interns at those area businesses to become better acquainted with the community, its leaders and fellow interns by taking part in a variety of social events, volunteer opportunities, lunch-and-learns and more. For additional information and to express interest in the program, employers are encouraged to visit ChooseTopeka.com/TopCity-Interns, where a “TopCity Interns Interest Form” is available for completion.

“With more than 200 interns expected to participate this summer, I’m excited to see how we can take TopCity Interns to the next level and show newcomers to Topeka that the capital city is a great place for young professionals to live, work and play,” said Rhett Flood, executive director of Forge Young Talent. “Each year, we try to respond to the needs of interns and employers, and we’re looking to provide a great mix of events this summer that are both informational and fun.”

“Evergy is proud to be a regular participant in and supporter of TopCity Interns,” said Kim Konecny, manager of talent acquisition for Evergy, TopCity Interns’ presenting sponsor. “Our interns always come out of the program with greater knowledge of Topeka and appreciation for the community. Having also served on the TopCity Interns planning committee, I know the hard work that goes into making each summer a success, so I’m excited to seeing what our interns have to look forward to this year.”

“Interns aren’t just part-time employees. They are the future of the workforce,” said Blythe Landon, onboarding specialist for Advisors Excel, an annual participant in the program and supporter of Forge. “The TopCity Interns program recognizes this and directly invests in Topeka’s interns by creating opportunities for them to connect with their community, network with their peers, and learn professional skills. This program is truly top notch, and we are so excited to see what the summer ahead holds.”

“TopCity Interns is another way Topeka and Shawnee County are being innovative in our approach to talent attraction,” said Trina Goss, director of business and talent initiatives for GO Topeka. “The hope is that these interns who may have only envisioned themselves in the area for a summer, go through this program and are now inspired to choose Topeka for themselves after graduation. We want them to enjoy the community and hope they begin to see the capital city in a new light.”