Elevate the Lumberjacks Thrive Externship Program at NAU
The Lumberjacks Thrive Externship Program helps NAU students turn their education into real-world opportunity.
Each spring semester, students are paired with NAU alumni and industry professionals for a structured, semester-long experience focused on mentorship, career exploration, and professional growth.
Through this program, students gain access to guidance, networks, and experiences that help them better understand their career path and take meaningful steps toward their future.
Each year, this program supports 20+ Lumberjack student annually across a range of industries, connecting them with alumni mentors who help shape their next steps after graduation.
Support Transformative Mentorship and Career Exploration on Giving Day
On Giving Day, your gift to the Wilson Family Lumberjacks Thrive Program Fund helps expand access to externships for more NAU students.
Externships are designed to be accessible and high-impact.
Students commit just 2 to 5 hours per month and receive:
- One-on-one mentorship with an NAU alumnus or alumna
- Career development workshops and guided activities
- Monthly cohort experiences with fellow externs
- A hands-on, on-site visit to experience a “day in the life” in their chosen field
With support from donors, students are able to travel, connect, and engage in professional environments they may not otherwise have access to.
Your gift helps fund travel, program support, and student participation—removing barriers so more Lumberjacks can take part.
When you give, you help students:
- Build meaningful professional relationships
- Explore career paths with confidence
- Gain real-world experience before graduation
- Access opportunities beyond the classroom
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. Your support helps close that gap.
Thank You for Your #AxeofKindess
“This experience opened my eyes to what a career in film could really look like. Getting to learn directly from someone in the industry and then see it firsthand was something I’ll never forget.”
— Madi Kimball, NAU student participant
Because of you, more students will gain access to mentorship, career exploration, and transformative experiences that shape their future.
Thank you for helping elevate Lumberjacks.
