Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. has been awarded a $189,000 grant to expand career-connected learning and internship opportunities for high school and college students across its 28-county service area in Northwest and North Central Kansas.
The funding will support the growth of Nex-Generation’s internship and work-study programs, specifically targeting critical workforce shortages in the healthcare, mental health, and legal sectors. By creating structured, paid career pathways and fostering direct connections with local employers, the initiative aims to build leadership readiness in local youth while addressing regional population decline and workforce gaps.
"Investing in our youth development is essential to the economic vitality, sustainability, and future prosperity of rural Kansas," said Janette Meis, executive director of Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth. "This support allows us to directly expand our outreach capacity, partner with more regional businesses, and provide hands-on, paid experiences for students in sectors where our communities need talent most."
Nex-Generation achieved a record high during the summer 2026 internship program, placing 294 students with regional business partners. The project will fund 25 additional summer internship stipends and 14 work-study placements, alongside dedicated regional outreach personnel to recruit new business partners across the 28-county territory.
It will also support three interactive student Leadership Days hosted in Beloit, Hays, and Colby, as well as a comprehensive program evaluation partnership with the Docking Institute of Public Affairs.
This project is supported in part by a 2026 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation.
Businesses interested in participating in the internship program can apply online through Dec. 1, 2026, by visiting www.nex-generation.org, where you can also learn more about Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. and additional program opportunities.
About Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc.
Established in 2013 in Lenora, Kansas, Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for youth across 28 Northwest and North Central Kansas counties. Through programs focusing on entrepreneurship, internships, work-study, financial literacy, and leadership development, Nex-Generation equips young people with real-world skills to help them live, work, and lead in rural Kansas communities.