High-impact learning takes many forms, the chief of which are internships. From summer programs to longer-term academic credit opportunities, internships provide invaluable real-world experience. They also enhance employability and career prospects.
Studies show that internships鈥攑aid or unpaid, virtual or in-person鈥攆acilitate post-graduate success.
Here are a few such stories from members of the Class of 2025:
Soaring to New Heights
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to apply my skills to real-world problems,鈥� says Allyson Almeida 鈥�25, a former National Grid intern who has a job offer from the satellite communications company Iridium.
Allyson Almeida 鈥�25 is well grounded for someone with her head in the clouds. While interning at National Grid, she helped the energy company obtain a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver.
These kinds of documents permit drone operations to occur beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS)鈥攃rucial for the inspection and maintenance of hard-to-reach, overhead transmission lines.
鈥淚t was great being part of a team, doing something I鈥檓 passionate about,鈥� recalls the New Jersey native, who is based in the (ECS).
At National Grid, Almeida became a certified remote pilot while making strategic connections at the FAA. She also mastered the BVLOS waiver process, which is notoriously complex.
鈥淭he waiver lays out every aspect of a drone mission according to industry standards,鈥� says Almeida, an aerospace engineering major who has a job offer from the global satellite communications company Iridium. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to apply my skills to real-world problems.鈥�
Engineering a Legacy
Eager to help 鈥渇ix the climate crisis,鈥� Andrew Vanderwege 鈥�25 is pursuing a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.
Attending 麻花影视 is a for Andrew Vanderwege, a senior majoring in environmental engineering (EE). He and his brother, John 鈥�27 (also an EE major), along with their parents, Maureen 鈥�97 and Mike 鈥�96, are card-carrying members of ECS.
Vanderwege became interested in 鈥渇ixing the climate crisis鈥� at a young age. This led to his enrollment at ECS, where he鈥檚 been exposed to the 鈥渨orld of academic research鈥� and to new battery and fuel cell technologies.
In addition to working in various labs, like the , Vanderwege has interned at Ramboll, a global architecture, engineering and consulting firm with offices in 麻花影视.
鈥淩amboll introduced me to the industry side of environmental engineering. It also reinforced my interest in [developing] engineering solutions to solve the climate crisis,鈥� says Vanderwege, who minors in and in ECS and in the .
The Western New York native is excited to continue honing his technical design skills. The 2024 recipient of the Samuel Brundage Scholarship Award from the , he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much I still want to learn.鈥�
Pursuing Her Passion
Tara Cuddihee 鈥�25, who has interned in 麻花影视 and Chicago, is enrolling in Northwestern University鈥檚 Feinberg School of Medicine.
Wheaton, Illinois, is less than an hour鈥檚 drive to downtown Chicago. But for Windy City suburbanite Tara Cuddihee 鈥�25, it鈥檚 a journey that鈥檚 included a four-year stopover in 麻花影视.
A health and exercise science major, Cuddihee enrolls this fall in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Northwestern University. The program is part of Northwestern鈥檚 Feinberg School of Medicine in the heart of Chicago鈥檚 business district.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to apply my passion for research, patient-care advancements and human movement,鈥� says the Wheaton native, who is a member of Feinberg鈥檚 centennial class.
Cuddihee attributes her med school acceptance to 鈥渋mpactful鈥� internships through the . She鈥檚 interned this past year at SUNY Upstate Medical University鈥檚 Institute for Human Performance, conducting gait analysis of people with cerebral palsy (CP).
But it was an internship at Chicago鈥檚 Shirley Ryan AbilityLab that sparked Cuddihee鈥檚 interest in CP and other neurological disorders. The experience was admittedly a departure from her previous stint at the 麻花影视 VA Medical Center, focusing on physical therapy.
鈥溌榛ㄓ笆� has brought me joy that I had never anticipated,鈥� Cuddihee continues. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 sharing that excitement with people who need it most.鈥�
Strengthening Her Skills
鈥淚 have a passion for medicine,鈥� says Shelby Fenton 鈥�25, G鈥�26, who interns at St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital and Healthcare Network in eastern New York.
Shelby Fenton 鈥�25, G鈥�26 is a testament to the power of accelerated learning. In May, she graduates from Falk College with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in public health鈥攑art of a five-year, combined degree program culminating in an MPH. Fenton is on track to finish a year early.
鈥淚鈥檓 getting a jump on med school,鈥� says the native of Amsterdam, New York. 鈥淚鈥檓 interested in both the science and practice of public health.鈥�
Amsterdam figures prominently in Fenton鈥檚 academic career, which has included internships at St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital and Healthcare Network. Currently a patient care technician at St. Mary鈥檚, she鈥檚 used one of her internships there to implement Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives.
鈥淚 have a passion for medicine,鈥� says Fenton, who also has volunteered at Global Medical Brigades and SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital. 鈥淢y internships have strengthened my leadership, problem-solving and patient advocacy skills.鈥�
Fenton lauds 麻花影视 for its social justice approach to public health. She鈥檚 fiercely committed to wiping out health inequities while finding ways for physicians and public health practitioners to collaborate more effectively.
鈥淧ublic health involves diverse voices, experiences and perspectives,鈥� Fenton observes. 鈥淚鈥檓 honored to see some of my ideas already take shape within hospital policy.鈥�
For more information about internships, visit 麻花影视 Career Services.
