ETCS interns often start professional work experience early

While coordinating a senior design class earlier this semester, Don Mueller, interim chair of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, asked the 20 students to submit résumés in the class’s project application process. Mueller wasn’t surprised that 19 students showed they had professional work experience.

“This is pretty typical of our seniors, and I would think extremely high compared to most universities,” Mueller said.

The results also show a continuing trend in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science at Purdue University Fort Wayne.  Students are gaining more experiential learning opportunities as they continue their studies, and ETCS administrators are delighted with their corporate readiness.

“What is unique here is that those opportunities are accessible to our students all year round,”
said Sherif Elfayoumy, the Steel Dynamics Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science. “Smaller towns or bigger towns without as many related businesses do not offer such opportunities. Our students learn the concept in the morning and apply it in the afternoon of the same day. That is unique.”

Fort Wayne has a large manufacturing base and economy, Mueller said, with a demand for engineers to support this industry. PFW engineering programs are well-connected to local companies.

Nick Krouse, a senior mechanical engineering technology major, and Sidney Basham, B.S. ’24, who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, are recent examples.

Krouse started interning with HUPP Aerospace / Defense in January, working full time over the summer, and currently 10 hours a week during the school year. The process has been challenging, he said, but management has been accommodating and amazing to work with, stressing his schedule there should not impede his studies.

“I think that the busier I am, the more I am forced to stay on task,” Krouse said. “It’s a lot, and I do feel busy; however, I am lucky to have an employer that is flexible and willing to meet my needs as a student.”

Krouse said the skills he has learned in class have often proven to be applicable. He’s making computer-assisted design representations of deliverable wire harnesses in production in the facility.

“I would 100% recommend the MET major, and I’d sing the praises of most people in the ETCS building,” Krouse said.

Adam Drew, inside sales manager for HUPP, said Krouse is the company's first PFW student and he has recommended more PFW students the company is interested in.

“Nick has been very open-minded to the many tasks we have thrown his way,” Drew said. “He has learned how our system works and is trusted to make decisions or recommendations for the betterment of the company. Nick’s always up for a challenge and willing to solve problems as they arise.”

Meeting a Trelleborg Sealing Solutions representative at an annual Society of Women Engineers Opportunity Banquet as a sophomore, Basham started interning there the following summer, working full-time in the central product engineering department. She later added a second internship, this time in the aerospace group.

“I got to know every person in the building and by my graduation had two years of Trelleborg experience under my belt. That gave me an insightful look into many industry and real-world problems,” Basham said. “I enjoyed being able to ask questions and receive honest answers throughout different stages of a project. I appreciated the large number of resources I could access, from our materials test lab to the manufacturing floor.”

Most of all, Basham said, she admired the company leadership and felt mentored and cared about. Last winter, she received offers for full-time employment from both departments. She felt the support from both managers before accepting a position as an aerospace application engineer.

Co-leader last year of the ETCS LEAD Peer Mentor Program, Basham regularly encouraged younger students to pursue internships.

“Students have to want the internship experience, though,” Basham said. “You have to want to learn, to struggle, to try things you might not be confident in, and to motivate yourself to make the experience yours.

"Sometimes we find out during an internship that we’d rather do something else, and that’s absolutely what this `trial’ period for a job is for. Sometimes we find that we really like what we’re seeing in the preview, and it gives us the opportunity to build that job security and start making valuable connections for the next steps forward.”