HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — James Madison University’s (JMU) University Recreation Center has been named a 2026 Virginia Top Employer for Interns by the State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) for Virginia, earning the recognition for the third consecutive year.

According to JMU officials, SCHEV honored 161 employers across the commonwealth for creating high-impact, career-launching internships that offer hands-on experience, access to senior leadership, structured mentorship, and opportunities to build in-demand skills.

At JMU, the UREC Internship and Practicum program reportedly complements classroom instruction with practical, for-credit experiences tailored to students’ academic and career goals. Each semester, UREC places approximately 10 students in 90 to 400-hour work-based learning roles. Participants meet weekly with professional staff supervisors for mentorship and gain experience through shadowing, projects and applied work.

“We think these practica and internships are a great opportunity for students to get experience in work-based learning. We collaborate with the academic departments to create clear learning outcomes to define the student’s experience,” said Eric Nickel, director of University Recreation.