Meet Corbin Weninger, a high school graduate from Greer, South Carolina who used Tallo to find new internship opportunities when COVID-19 brought his summer plans to a screeching halt.
Corbin first heard about Tallo during a school visit to the J. Harley Bonds Career Center, where he participated in a mechatronics program that taught him how to work with a wide variety of industrial systems and machines. While there, he used Tallo to apply for the BMW Tech Scholars Program – which he received! – and is using the tuition assistance it provides to attend Greenville Technical College this fall.
Corbin spoke with us about what got him interested in the BMW Tech Scholars Program, what it looks like, and how, thanks to Tallo, the summer he never expected worked out in the end.
Interests
Corbin has always enjoyed working with his hands. His interest in mechatronics was a natural progression, as he learned during a high school program that it would allow him to work in a broad range of fields. When it came time to apply for college, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in mechatronics and looked for opportunities to do so.
“I’ve applied to several internships through Tallo and I love how easy it is to use,” said Corbin. “I used Tallo to look for internship opportunities in mechatronics – a sort of jack-of-all-trades field that’s perfect for me because I like to be really hands-on. Tallo made what would have otherwise been a stressful process much simpler and ultimately successful.”
The BMW Tech Scholars Program
The BMW Tech Scholars Program began in 2011 as a partnership between the manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina and four local institutions: Spartanburg Community College, Greenville Technical College and Tri-County Technical College, and Piedmont Technical College.
In addition to getting students interested in the field, the program is designed to support students like Corbin by helping offset college costs, provide health benefits, and pay students for their work.
Corbin heard about the BMW Tech Scholars Program during a presentation at his school, but he was too young at the time to apply. Years later, Tallo made it easy for Corbin to follow up on his early interest in the program.
“That’s how I ended up applying for the BMW Tech Scholars Program, through which I’ll get practical training and potentially the opportunity for a full-time job when I graduate,” said Corbin.
The program offers a flexible schedule, in which participants work a maximum of 25 hours a week to accommodate their classes. Corbin’s are scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, leaving Tuesdays and Thursdays open for part-time work.
College
Corbin chose Greenville Technical College because of the location and affordability option, but he’s also particularly excited to have access to the innovative equipment available on their Center for Manufacturing Innovation campus – even though, like many of today’s college students, most of Corbin’s classes are online.
However, if there’s one thing Corbin and his peers can take away from his experience, it’s this: Sometimes, change can be a good thing!
“The coronavirus cancelled the other internships I had lined up, but thanks to Tallo, my plans actually changed for the better. Tallo opened the door for me to join a program that helps with tuition and provides healthcare benefits, and I can’t express how grateful I am for the opportunity!”
We’re glad Corbin could use Tallo to make something positive come out of a potentially negative situation, and we hope to help even more of today’s students do the same.
