Kalamazoo Promise Launches Sixth Annual Regional Business Challenge to Hire College Promise Interns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Ca’Jon Martin, Digital Media & Marketing Manager – cmartin@kalamazoopromise.com | 269.337.0037 

KALAMAZOO, Mich. [Sept. 15, 2026] — The Kalamazoo Promise has opened business partner registration for Higher Promise 2027, an initiative that challenges regional business partners to hire postsecondary Promise Scholars for paid summer internships.

Maya Goggins, 2024 Higher Promise Intern at Duncan Aviation

“Our goal with Higher Promise is to make sure all Promise Scholars have work experience in their fields of study, opening doors to great jobs in our region,” said Cetera DiGiovanni, Higher Promise manager at The Kalamazoo Promise. “The Kalamazoo business community consistently supports the work we do at The Promise.”

In its fifth year, Higher Promise saw 48 business partners hire 90 Scholars for internships in 2026, 61 percent of whom were students of color.

“The Higher Promise internship program shows what happens when a community invests fully in its young people,” said Von Washington Jr., chief executive officer of The Kalamazoo Promise. “Every intern who grows through this program is proof that the Promise doesn’t stop at tuition but follows students all the way into their careers.”

The Promise facilitates matches between internship seekers and companies, aligning student majors and interests with the needs of area employers.

“Higher Promise gives Clark Logic the opportunity to turn education into experience, and experience into opportunity,” said Jamie Clark, president of Clark Logic. “When we invest in these young intern students, we are not just building our future workforce; we are building the future of Kalamazoo.”

The business community continues to recognize the benefits of Higher Promise.

“Southwest Michigan's future workforce is already here. The young professionals that we all want to attract and retain are here today, said Clarence Lloyd, director and director of Southwest Michigan First Chamber. “The Southwest Michigan First Chamber has been part of this program since the beginning, and what we’ve heard from our member businesses is consistent: once you host a Promise Scholar, you come back and do it again.”

Oscar Sandoval, 2024 Higher Promise Intern at Rooted

In addition to internships, Promise Scholars participate in a professional development course focused on personal and workplace navigation, helping them develop skills to succeed not only in their internships but throughout their careers.

Several area businesses have already pledged to hire Promise Scholars for summer 2027, including Stryker, Bronson Healthcare, Family Health Center, the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, Howell Parfet Schau, and Southwest Michigan First. These partners are encouraging other companies to join the program next summer.

Registration for Promise Scholars will open on October 5th.

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For more information about Higher Promise, please visit www.kalamazoopromise.com/higher-promise.