Industry pros mentor engineering interns from Bob Jones

MADISON – Industry professionals mentored Bob Jones High School seniors during their internship assignments to local companies and manufacturers.

The engineering interns completed 12 weeks with local employers. Designated employees at host companies helped students, who engaged in real-world work experience, tours and shadowing.

“I am so proud of our Fall 2020 Senior Design Internship Class students,” Jessye Gaines said. “The amount of flexibility, creativity, maturity and independence they have demonstrated this semester has been spectacular.” Gaines is Director of Bob Jones Engineering Academy.

Bob Jones Internship Class completed virtual training with career coach Carla Cobb. This semester, Cobb specialized her training in interview etiquette during virtual exchange.

Seniors delivered their final presentations on Dec. 15-16 live via the WebEx platform:

Clayton Sanders studied concussion diagnosis and detection systems with mentor Kris Kasprzak at Siemens. Jonathan Byers developed scheduling skills for Amazon Echo Dot by using Alexa Developer Console with mentor Steve Mays at SAIC.

At Engineering Research & Consulting or ERC, expert Joe McKenzie assisted senior Scott Reid in modular desk design and building. Student Quinn Burgess explored vehicle interior optimization with Tara RuthAnn Sprinkle at Combat Capabilities Development Command with the U.S. Army.

Jake Palenapa designed a rocket nozzle with guidance from Chris Brown at Missile Defense Agency. Jay Dickerson designed, CAD-modeled, 3D-printed and launched a model rocket system with NASA expert Erick Ordonez.

For his project, Joe Palenapa created and constructed a remote-controlled glider with mentor Kyle Groundwater at Crossflow Technologies. John Digges experimented with rocket cost efficiency with NASA professional David Teare.

Andrew Girgis re-designed a helicopter rotor blade with support from Paul Lambertson at The Boeing Company. Jordan Jackson CAD-modeled and 3D-printed a drone payload attachment, guided by Rhonda Fykes at Northrop Grumman.

Nick Owen modernized the Nissan 240SX with advice from Andrea Alexander with Ford Motors. Easten Phillips experimented with automated farming with help from Amarie Whetten at Raytheon Technologies.

Sam Glover worked at building a mechanical arm with Charles Moore at Raytheon Technologies. Josh Merritt designed and built a hovercraft, guided by Patrick Roesner at Boeing.

Dwight Ware automated a compost bin with assistance from Jeromy Lambert with Ascend Performance Materials. Stephen Mays 3D-printed a prosthetic hand with SAIC expert Nicholas Whiting. Katrina Pedrahas designed a dog-care robot with NASA tutor Mark Krome.