Atherton, CA – November 4, 2025 – Menlo College is proud to announce that its Office of Internships & Career Services (ICS) has once again been recognized with Handshake’s prestigious Career Spark Award, marking the College’s second consecutive year receiving this national honor.
Handshake, the largest and most diverse early talent network in the United States, connects 75% of all U.S. college students through their school’s career centers with more than one million employers actively recruiting on the platform. Each year, the Career Spark Awards celebrate top-performing institutions for excellence in student engagement, employer engagement, and reporting and analytics. Out of more than 1,500 schools using Handshake, only 40 were selected in 2025 — and Menlo College is proud to be one of them.
“We’re honored to receive this recognition for the second year in a row,” said LaShonda Kennedy, Executive Director of Career Services and Student Engagement. “It highlights our ongoing commitment to preparing Menlo students for career success through real-world experience, personalized guidance, and strong partnerships with employers.”
The ICS team earned recognition for its innovative and student-centered approach to career readiness. Through required internships for all business majors, personalized advising, and signature programs like Career Connect Day, Menlo ensures every student has the opportunity to explore their professional interests, build industry connections, and gain practical experience before graduation.
Elijah Valdeolivar, Associate Director of Employer Relations & Career Services, added, “Our Career Services team is committed to bridging meaningful connections between students and employers. We actively use Handshake to help students promote their skills, connect with opportunities, and support employers in finding top talent. This recognition reflects our ongoing dedication to enhance the employment experience for both our student and partner communities.”
This back-to-back recognition places Menlo College among the top 2% of career centers nationwide using Handshake, underscoring its continued excellence in student engagement and employer collaboration.
Learn more about Handshake’s Career Spark Awards and Menlo College’s Internships & Career Services.
Media Inquiries
For media inquiries, please contact: pr@menlo.edu
Menlo College is a small private, nonprofit college founded in 1927 with a mission to “ignite potential and educate students to make meaningful contributions in the innovation economy.” Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, Menlo College offers undergraduate degrees in business and psychology, as well as three graduate degrees: a Master of Science in Information Systems, a Master of Science in Financial Technology, and a Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology. Menlo is designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving (AANAPISI) Institution.
About Handshake
Handshake’s mission is to democratize access to opportunity, and Handshake is the best place to start or accelerate a career—no connections, experience, or luck required. Our community includes 15 million+ students and young alumni from 1,500+ educational institutions, including four-year colleges, community colleges, boot camps, and 300+ minority-serving institutions. We connect emerging talent with 950K+ employers—from Fortune 500 companies to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, nonprofits, and more. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, New York, London, and Berlin and teammates working globally.
