Mining Firm Builds Student Pipeline Through Training
Employers in trades and mining can use sponsored internships and endorsement-linked scholarships to widen local hiring.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Internships
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Clara Cummings, human resources director at Empire State Mines, received the 2026 Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators Business Partner Award. The recognition honors the company's expanded work-based learning for St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES students at Southwest Tech.
Why it matters
The award recognizes business partners whose commitment to career and technical education creates student opportunities and strengthens the future workforce. For operators, it shows how employers can shape local talent pipelines by directly sponsoring technical training and internships.
The award is the 2026 ACTEA Business Partner Award, and the work-based learning spans six programs: Heavy Equipment Operations, Metalworking, Automotive Technology, Electrical Technologies, Building Trades and Emergency Medical Careers. The stub does not report student counts or scholarship values.
The players
Empire State Mines
A mining company that expanded work-based learning and an underground mining internship program for regional students.
St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
A New York regional educational cooperative that runs career and technical education programs for area high school students.
Association of Career and Technical Education Administrators
A professional association of career and technical education administrators that presents the annual Business Partner Award.
The details
Empire State Mines developed an underground mining internship program that gives students hands-on industry experience. The company also sponsors an annual scholarship for graduates earning a New York state technical endorsement. Cummings serves on multiple advisory committees and takes part in regional workforce planning to align BOCES career and technical education programs with industry needs.
Timeline
2026: Cummings receives the ACTEA Business Partner Award.
Market Landscape
The state technical endorsement gives employers a recognized credential to recruit against, and Empire State Mines ties its scholarship directly to it. Employer-sponsored apprenticeship and internship pipelines like this one are a common way regional mining and trades firms build a local labor supply.
Operators in trades and mining should consider whether a sponsored internship or scholarship tied to a state endorsement could widen their recruiting pool. Review how local CTE programs are structured before committing to a partnership, and consult qualified HR advisors on any hiring or program obligations.
The takeaway
Employers looking to fill technical roles can use advisory committee seats and regional workforce planning to shape local training before candidates reach the job market. Track whether your local BOCES offers work-based learning in your trade, and ask about endorsement-linked scholarship options.
Further reading
Explore more on Internships to see how employers build early-career pipelines with schools and training programs.
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