The Rubin team is excited to announce the 2025 finalists for our America’s Next Great Intern contest.

In the annual contest, students showcase employability skills that employers nationwide value in new hires.

Rubin, the leader in online resources for employability skills training, hosts the competition.

The contest is 100% free. All participating students receive a certificate of completion and a ready-made portfolio of their submitted contest materials. The first place winner (high school division) will meet virtually with Scott Kaufman-Ross, an executive with the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The free contest is open to middle school, high school and postsecondary students in any CTE or project-based (hands-on) class or program.

Students were asked to submit examples of their work in the following categories:

• Email Etiquette: Demonstrate a professional-grade email based on fictional, work-related scenario.
• Research and Critical Thinking: Learn to develop sharp questions ahead of a fictitious internship interview.
• Ethical Dilemma: Provide a response to a tricky ethical situation you might face as an intern.

Demand for intern and job applicants with “soft skills” is a top priority across all industry sectors. According to a 2022 survey of employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 76% of respondents want to hire young people who can work on a team, 73% want ones with strong written communication skills and 58% seek new hires who can speak well. 

“Employers often lament that students don’t possess the ‘soft skills’ necessary to engage in an office setting or on the job site,” says Danny Rubin, founder of Rubin. “We hope the contest shows that, yes, there are motivated young people coast to coast who will add value to any business or organization.”

Voting is now open! Visit rubineducation.com/vote to pick America’s Next Great Intern.

Here are the 2025 finalists!

• Kainat Ahmadzai, 10th Grade

Prince William County Schools (VA)

• Kris Basa, 12th Grade

Nacogdoches ISD (TX)

• Jordan Blair, 12th Grade

Anoka-Hennepin School District (MN)

• Ailey Bolson, 12th Grade

Oconomowoc Area School District (WI)

• Rakshana Damodaran, 9th Grade

Fairfax County Public Schools (VA)

• Da’moni Gosha, 10th Grade

Phenix County Schools (AL)

• Asher Hoffman, 11th Grade

Laguna Beach USD (CA)

• Shannon Jenkins, 12th Grade

Boone Community School District (IA)

• Anvith Narayana, 9th Grade

Wake County Public School System (NC)

• Jocelyn Osborne, 12th Grade

Botetourt County Public Schools (VA)

• David Sheffield, 12th Grade

Montgomery ISD (TX)

• Sofia Tovar, 12th Grade

Allen Village School (MO)

• Eliana Wehrle, 11th Grade

Clark County School District (NV)