Arrupe Career Fellows

Photo: Arrupe students Ruth Birabil (left) and Osi Hernandez (right) walk with Wintrust's AVP Curt Hansen as they begin their Wintrust internship. The program allows them to rotate through different teams as they learn about banking and finance.

Arrupe not only provides students with academic preparation and guidance in navigating institutional culture, but it also helps students access social networks through its Career Fellowships and similar programs. These initiatives help students broaden their connections with individuals who have attended college and can offer valuable advice, mentorship, and even professional connections.

The program was conceived by Sarah McNally, Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Recruiting at Arrupe. The paid “pre-internship” provides students an opportunity to gain professional experience, explore career paths, build their networks, and develop career readiness skills early in their college journeys.

During the eight-week, cohort-based program, students spend Wednesdays at employer sites completing projects, job shadowing, and working with professionals who partner with Arrupe to tailor programs to meet the needs of our students. Participants receive a stipend at the end of the semester, and the program is structured as a learning experience rather than employment so that undocumented students can also apply.

“Through the Career Fellowship, I was able to build connections with professionals, gain a broader understanding of legal careers, and help me decide on the next steps I want to take in my career path,” says Adamaris Lema, a second-year student who participated in the program last year. “I also learned from my peers: we held each other accountable to show up on time, prepared questions together, inspired other students with our presentations at the program celebration, and even networked with one another.”

This semester, Lema was selected as the Career Fellowship Ambassador, a role in which she provides support to the 51 participants at 14 different sites to engage with weekly career resources, communicate professionally with their supervisors, and feel confident representing Arrupe in these professional settings.