Three Class Is among 'early talent' award earners
3/31/2026
By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor
Make it a three-peat and four-peat. BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad recently were named a recipient of a Handshake Early Talent Award for the third- and fourth-straight year, respectively. In addition, Norfolk Southern Railway and UP earned the award for the fifth time.
Presented annually by career network Handshake, the award recognizes companies that are committed to excellence for job seekers and foster early career opportunities for emerging talent, such as by offering opportunities for interns and young professionals to grow their skills, make a meaningful impact in their jobs and advance their careers.
Handshake aims to serve as an early career platform that connects students and employers. Winners are chosen based on Handshake platform data measuring four key performance indicators, with awards presented to the highest-ranking employers in their industry.
Award categories include accounting; architecture, real estate and construction; banking; education and nonprofits; energy, oil and gas; financial services; consumer goods and food; government; health care; insurance; manufacturing; media; professional services; retail; software and technology; and transportation and logistics.
UP now has won a Handshake Early Talent Award in each of the past four years. Union Pacific Railroad In addition to BNSF, NS and UP, other 2026 winners in the transportation and logistics category include the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, FedEx, Schneider, and state departments of transportation in California, Massachusetts, Michigan and Virginia.
The awards are measured by:
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brand resonance, such as how well a brand attracts and converts student interest, and brand page follower growth;
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engagement, including how compelling and relevant outreach efforts are via message click-through rate or feed engagement;
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event participation, such as how effectively events draw student interest; and
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relationships, as in how consistently a company reaches and builds trust with those who are early in their careers.
In addition to winning an award, BNSF landed some additional recognition from Handshake for brand-building efforts. Companies also are honored each year as “AI Talent Builders,” or forward-thinking employers that have demonstrated excellence in defining the future of young talent recruiting; “Skills Transformers,” or employers that expand opportunities for job seekers through innovative hiring and development practices; and “Brand Builders,” or employers that stand out through exceptional brand presence and engagement with young talent.
By earning the award again in 2026, NS has received a Handshake Early Talent Award five times. UP also is a five-time winner.Norfolk Southern Railway “The ‘Brand Builder’ status is a new designation for us that we were awarded due to our work specifically on our BNSF Brand Page efforts within Handshake,” said BNSF spokesperson Kendall Sloan in an email.
Handshake is the largest and most active network of students and recent grads, connecting employers to more than 20 million job seekers across 1,500-plus universities and programs, from freshmen to students trying to earn a Ph.D., according to BNSF.
“This annual award celebrates the employers leading the next chapter of early talent hiring, and we’re among a select few in our industry honored out of nearly 1 million employers using Handshake,” said Sloan.
BNSF also recently received a Building Together Award from the Economic Development Corp. of Utah (EDCU). The award recognizes organizations that have a meaningful impact on Utah’s economic prosperity.
“BNSF plays a critical role in keeping Utah and the broader region connected to national and global markets. Their expansive rail network supports key industries across the state,” EDCU officials said in a social media post. “Beyond infrastructure, BNSF continues to stand out as a strong partner in economic development. Their collaboration helps to deliver the logistics solutions companies depend on when choosing where to grow.”