City Celebrates First Graduates of Home to Texas Internship Program

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX — The City of Corpus Christi and the Type B Corporation are cultivating the next generation of community leaders thanks to a recent collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin’s Home to Texas Internship Program.  

The Home to Texas Internship Program is a nine-week summer program that connects motivated first-year college students with internship and research opportunities in their hometowns. The University of Texas at Austin manages the program, which provides students with hands-on experience while connecting local employers to potential future hires. Most importantly, it encourages students to consider potential job opportunities in their hometown by building their professional network and experience.

For the inaugural class, five UT Austin students from Corpus Christi were placed at various internships across the city. Each participant was awarded a $5,000 scholarship funded through the Type B Corporation, a board that administers sales tax proceeds for multiple uses, including economic development. Due to its success, the Office of Economic Development hopes to continue the program with the Type B Corporations’ ongoing support. 

“We have received an incredible response from local employers and students eager to return to their hometown,” said Arturo Marquez, Director of Economic Development. “This program is creating more opportunities for students to gain professional experience and explore career paths in Corpus Christi, while also enabling employers to develop students’ skills and broaden their network.” 

The five graduates and their respective internship locations are:

·        Amlef Paulyne Pastoriza, Complete Family Care PLLC

·        Braedon Hallmark, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend

·        Christian Banez, Windstorm and Structural Engineers

·        Christine Infante, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District

·        Sofia Hernandez, United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce Foundation 

Local employers interested in participating in summer 2026 are encouraged to contact the Office of Economic Development at 361-826-4000. For more information about the program, please visit https://careersuccess.utexas.edu/students/get-experience/home-to-texas/ or call 512-471-2425.

Media representatives requesting additional information may contact Cassandra Hinojosa, Public Information Officer, at 361-826-2944 or cassandrah3@cctexas.com.