Engineering interns learn by doing this summer
The learning doesn’t stop when the semester ends. Many College of Engineering students spend the summer as interns, meaning they’re gaining hands-on experience tackling industry challenges while also fulfilling the bridge experience requirement.
Plus, college students who have completed an internship are twice as likely to land a job after graduation.
To celebrate National Internship Day, which is July 30, meet seven engineering students who are making the most of their internships this summer.
Libby Moir, civil and environmental engineering
Through her internship with Land Design Inc. in Alexandria, Moir has explored civil engineering from multiple perspectives by collaborating with engineers, planners, and landscape architects to transform ideas into innovative site designs and present creative solutions for projects.
“It’s been great to explore civil engineering from design to construction by working on conceptual site plans, collecting field data, and visiting job sites to see how collaboration turns ideas into reality," Moir said.
Emily Benz, Myers-Lawson School of Construction
At James G. Davis Construction in Rockville, Maryland, Benz is gaining hands-on experience on a 90-unit housing project as a construction intern. Her responsibilities include supporting civil scope work such as grading, curb and gutter installation, concrete placement for sidewalks and drainage systems, and asphalt installation for parking areas. She is also observing project coordination with trade partners as teams complete punch list walkthroughs floor by floor.
“What has stood out most is my team’s genuine commitment to teaching," said Benz, a senior majoring in building construction. "They are eager to share their knowledge and make sure I am gaining meaningful, hands-on experience that aligns with my goals in construction.”
Fehintolu Ghandi-Olaoye, industrial and systems engineering
Ghandi-Olaoye, a senior, is completing her third internship at Boeing in St. Louis, Missouri. The past two summers, she worked as a software engineer intern. This year, she returned as an innovation engineering intern, where she utilized user-centered design principles and continuous improvement tools to create an artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge assistant. Her design allows the site to streamline internal processes and improve information flow across teams. She was also selected to plan and lead the Government Training Engineering (GTE) Intern Report-Out Showcase, where nine interns present their projects to managers and GTE leadership.
“My favorite part of my internship has been seeing my work make a real impact,” said Ghandi-Olaoye. “Developing an AI solution that will improve efficiency and continue supporting my team beyond my internship has shown me how engineering can create lasting value for an organization.”
Tess Heller, mining and minerals engineering
As part of her internship at Allan Myers in Paradise, Pennsylvania, Heller has been trained to operate multiple pieces of heavy equipment such as skid steers, water trucks, articulated haul trucks, loaders, and more. She spends most of her days in the quarry in a haul truck moving rock to the primary crusher. She also spends time doing maintenance on the plant while learning the ins and outs of the machines.
“My favorite part of this experience so far has been the opportunity to apply the knowledge I've gained in the classroom to real-world situations,” said Heller. “Working alongside experienced professionals has allowed me to learn from their expertise while bridging the gap between textbook concepts and industry practice.”
Lana Asaad, aerospace and ocean engineering
Asaad is spending her second summer as an intern at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama, after making a connection on campus at a NASA-sponsored outreach event. Her internships have allowed her to apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools to real-world aerospace challenges and contribute to technologies that will help enable future space exploration missions. This summer as a Cryogenic Fluid Management CFD intern, she is supporting in-space refueling initiatives by conducting CFD simulations that replicate both ground-based and microgravity experiments.
“One of the greatest benefits of getting to intern at NASA MSFC is the opportunity to attend meetings, events, and tours on all of the different programs, missions, and projects that NASA supports,” said Asaad. “Not only do I have the opportunity to contribute to these missions through my work, but I get to learn about the various roles that support them too.”
Jack Holbrook, materials science and engineering
This is Holbrook’s second summer interning at Nucor Steel Hertford County in Cofield, North Carolina. He is working as a metallurgical intern in the melt shop and working on process improvements at the caster.
“One of my favorite parts of this internship has been the opportunity to apply what I've learned in the classroom in a hands-on environment while working with an amazing team of people who are always willing to teach me something new," Holbrook said.
JD Champagne, mechanical engineering
Champagne is doing a wide variety of tasks at Enabled Engineering in Blacksburg, an advanced manufacturing company. He is designing, building, programming, and deploying a test apparatus that assists in matching to established standards. It also replaces the functionality of several $20,000 machines for about $1,000 in parts.
"This is a great opportunity," Champagne said. "I get to do a little bit of everything including CAD, fabrication, microcontrollers programming, and integration. It's a great overview of multiple jobs, coming together in one."
