Contact: 
Bob Spieldenner
bobspiedenner@schev.edu
(804) 718-9443 (cell)

Richmond, Va. – The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) today honored 161 employers as the 2026 Top Virginia Employers for Interns, recognizing their efforts to establish high-impact, career-launching internships across the Commonwealth.

The annual award celebrates Virginia employers who provide hands-on experiences, direct access to senior leadership, structured mentorship and industry certifications that equip students with real-world, in-demand skills.

“Virginia’s competitive advantage is our talent pipeline,” said Scott Fleming, executive director of SCHEV. “The employers recognized this year are turning learning into experience and expanding the talent pipeline Virginia needs.”

More than 91% of awardees provide paid internships, most in-person and during the summer, while more than half offer nontraditional internships, like those for students with disabilities, career switchers, veterans or active-duty military members transitioning to the workforce. In addition, 46% of employers convert at least some internships into full-time roles, accelerating the path from classroom to career.
Beyond internships, recipients deliver a broad range of work-based learning opportunities, including job shadowing, career exploration, capstones, micro-internships and apprenticeships.

“These organizations aren’t just hosting interns, they’re building Virginia’s future workforce,” said Alisha Bazemore, Ed.D., assistant director of innovative work-based learning initiatives. “Their leadership is opening doors for students to gain meaningful experience and launch successful careers.”

SCHEV will recognize these employers on July 30, 2026, in Richmond during Virginia Intern Day, a statewide annual celebration of student-interns, employers and higher education partners advancing work-based learning.

Award recipients are:

Region 1 (Bland County, Bristol, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Dickenson County, Galax, Grayson County, Lee County, Norton, Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County, Wythe County)
KVAT Food Stores Inc/Food City
Powell Valley National Bank
Real Performance Machinery
Skyline National Bank
The Inn at Wise

Region 2 (Alleghany County, Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Botetourt County, Campbell County, Covington, Craig County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Giles County, Lynchburg, Montgomery County, Pulaski County, Radford, Roanoke, Roanoke County, Salem)
Branch Group
Brown Edwards & Company, L.L.P
Campus internEXP at Virginia Tech
Carilion Clinic
City of Roanoke
CloudFit Software
Delta Star, Inc.
Framatome
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
Retirement Unlimited, Inc.
Robertson Marketing Group
Southern Air, Inc.
Triple Point Security
Virginia Amateur Sports, Inc.

Region 3 (Amelia County, Brunswick County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Cumberland County, Danville, Halifax County, Henry County, Lunenberg County, Martinsville, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Prince Edward County)
Appalachian Conservation Corps
Averett University
Danville - Pittsylvania Community Services
Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History
LE&D Professionals, PC
Letterpress Communications
Solex Architecture, Inc.
The Danville Hotel Collection (The Bee Hotel, The Holbrook Hotel, The Laurel Hotel) 
The Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

Region 4 (Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie County, Emporia, Goochland County, Greensville County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Hopewell, New Kent County, Petersburg, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Richmond, Surry County, Sussex County)
Atlantic Union Bank
Auditor of Public Accounts
Chesterfield County Government
ColonialWebb Contractors, Inc.
Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing 
Commonwealth Savers Plan
Department of Conservation and Recreation- Virginia State Parks
Dominion Energy
Enterprise Mobility
Familiar Creatures
Forvis Mazars
Froehling and Robertson, Inc.
Genworth
Grimalkin Records 
Health in Mind, LLC
Henrico County General Government 
Hourigan
Keiter 
Kinsale Insurance 
Moseley
Ocean Network Express
Primis Bank
Science Museum of Virginia
The Newviews Agency
Timmons Group
Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
Virginia Economic Development Partnership 
Virginia Housing 
Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA)
Virginia State Corporation Commission
WellsColeman

Region 5 (Accomack County, Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton County, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Southampton County, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, York County)
Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group
Autism Consulting and Therapy
Busch Vacuum Solutions 
Chartway Credit Union
Chesapeake Controls
City of Virginia Beach
Colonna's Shipyard, Inc.
Dollar Tree
HII (Newport News Shipbuilding, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Mission Technologies)
ITA International
Langley Federal Credit Union
LifeNet Health
Marathon Consulting, LLC
MI Technical Solutions
Nauticus
Norfolk State University (NSU)
Northwestern Mutual Coastal Virginia 
Sentara Health
Stewart & Company
Studio Center
The Longbow Group
The Port of Virginia
Threat Tec, LLC 
Virginia Living Museum
Virginia Spaceport Authority 
Wall, Einhorn & Chernitzer, P.C.
WHRO Public Media

Region 6 (Caroline County, Essex County, Fredericksburg, Gloucester County, King and Queen County, King George County, King William County, Lancaster County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Westmoreland County)
Cyber Bytes Foundation
F45 Training Stafford VA
Fredericksburg Technology
Matern Staffing
Natural Scentiments
Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, Inc. 
REIGN the Venue
SimVentions, Inc.
University of Mary Washington
Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce

Region 7 (Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William County)
Apple Federal Credit Union
CGI
Deltek Inc. 
Dev Technology Group 
Dewberry 
Digital Realty
Electrify America, LLC.
Fairfax County Park Authority 
Goodwin Living
HITT Contracting
Jacobs
Kaiser Permanente
Kaptivate
Kearney and Company
MMA & Sports Rehab 
Navy Federal Credit Union
Northwest Federal Credit Union
NTT Global Data Centers 
Plus3 IT Systems 
Prosperity Partners
Shirley Contracting Company, LLC
TekSynap
Thompson Greenspon
Van Metre Companies 
Verizon Communications
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

Region 8 (Augusta County, Bath County, Buena Vista, Clarke County, Frederick County, Harrisonburg, Highland County, Lexington, Page County, Rockbridge County, Rockingham County, Shenandoah County, Staunton, Warren County, Waynesboro, Winchester)
ARETGroup 
Augusta County Circuit Court
Bank of Clarke
Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center
City of Harrisonburg
Continental
Dynamic Aviation
F.R. Drake Company
First Bank
First Tee Shenandoah Valley/ Shenandoah Junior Golf Foundation
Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc
James Madison University Recreation (UREC)
Leitner Law, PLC
Momentum Earthworks
Monoflo International, Inc.
Racey Engineering, PLLC
Rockbridge Cider Vinegar
Shenandoah Valley Organic 
The Gaines Group Architects PLC
VPGC, LLC.
Western State Hospital
YHB CPA & Consultants 

Region 9 (Albemarle County, Charlottesville, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, Fluvanna County, Greene County, Louisa County, Madison County, Nelson County, Orange County, Rappahannock County)
434 Accelerator 
Anchor Health Properties
BlueSky Property Management
Chaski Global 
Commonwealth Senior Living
Life Stories with Dr. Gloria Crosslin TV Media 
OakHeart Financial Group
RevArt
TELUS Digital
Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.
Wintergreen Resort
WNRN