#studentinternshipcampaign

[northernstories]

Students from Northern Michigan University are completing awesome internships!

Ronnie Tucker is a criminal justice major from Altha, Fla. This summer, he’s interning with the Negaunee State Police, where he has had the opportunity to observe the troopers during their daily tasks.

“I’m looking forward to learning enough skills that I can later apply to myself to better my chances of becoming a trooper.”

Tucker says he starts his day off at the post in Negaunee, where he meets with the sergeant on duty. After that, he finds out which trooper he is assigned to for the day, and then they load the car up and head out.

On a daily basis he’s quizzed by some of the troopers regarding their location and codes coming over the radio. Tucker also had the opportunity to be present for multiple arrests, including DUI, substance abuse and a breaking and entering.

Tucker originally decided to come to NMU because he received a scholarship for the Olympic Training Site weightlifting program.

“I like my major because I feel like it fits me - I feel like some people are born to do certain things, and for me it was to be in law enforcement, and my major gives me the opportunity to live my dream.”

Tucker said, thus far, he’s learned a few key skills on how to pick up red flags on vehicle and people behavior. He continues to be trained on how to use the radio and to be aware of his surroundings.

“I have learned so many valuable lessons and have met so many tremendous officers, and I hope that I can later apply these skills in my career as a Michigan State Police Officer.”

Way to go Ronnie!

[northernstories]

Students from Northern Michigan University are completing awesome internships!

Kent Frantz is a construction management major from Alpena, Mich. This summer, he took a field engineering internship with Mortenson Construction in Phoenix, Ariz., where he has been working on a five-story office building.

“I expect to come out of this summer internship with a greater understanding of what it takes to build a commercial building. Also, I would like to learn some of the problem solving skills used to keep a project rolling, as this is a large part of construction. Last but not least I expect to meet and build relationships with some great construction professionals.”

Frantz says the instructors and faculty in the construction management program at NMU have been very helpful and engaged in his future as a student.

As part of his program at NMU, Frantz said students were able to design and build a shed for a community partner in one of his classes, where he learned the different steps to building a product for a customer.

Frantz says of his experiences throughout his duration at NMU, as far as career building and getting out on a job site, he’s found his internships to be most rewarding. He also says he’s learned quite a bit as a leader of the Northern Michigan Constructors (NMC).

“My favorite memory at NMU was working on the 2015 Disabled Veterans project. This was an extensive project where the NMC worked with the volunteer center to build an 8 foot by 8 foot covered deck to make entering and exiting the house easier. The deck was the largest part of the project, but we also replaced exterior doors and a water closet, installed light fixtures and handrails.”

Way to go Kent!

[northernstories]

Students from Northern Michigan University are completing awesome internships!

Josh Stanton is a multimedia journalism major with an art and design minor. He’s originally from Kalamazoo, Mich. However, this summer he’s working as a media production and design intern at the North Coast Post.

Stanton said this summer, he’ll be working on social media message design for client accounts and blogs, event filming, film transfer and small media projects for walk-in clients.

“I'm looking forward to expanding my skill sets in media editing/design and taking this knowledge with me to the next opportunity, come what may. I'm expecting to make lifelong connections with clients and colleagues."

This past school year, Stanton worked as the online editor for the North Wind, NMU’s student-run newspaper.

“It was an incredible experience to work with such passionate people and learn to balance classes and work. It helped me understand how to integrate class lessons into more of a "real-world" setting. I also worked with the NMU football team and filmed and edited highlight videos for recruiting/promotion purposes - all great experiences.”

Stanton said his time at NMU thus far really prepared him for his internship by showing him the need for progressive learning. He said he realized it is most important to stay teachable and keep an open mind, especially with rapidly changing technology and user-friendly professional media platforms.

“I believe that if you want to make a point, the way to best get that across is to tell stories. My hope is to use my skills as a visual storyteller to help clients broaden their reach and show them how to articulate their message in the most effective way.“

Way to go Josh!

[northernstories]

Students from Northern Michigan University are completing awesome internships!

Don Barr is a post-baccalaureate senior, majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics. Barr is originally from Negaunee, Mich. He is completing a 12-month internship with Intel Corporation in Folsom, Calif.

“I have limited experience working with computer hardware, so I’m excited to learn more about the SSD lifecycle and better understand how my teams’ efforts affect Intel’s product release dates. I’ll be completing a 12 month internship, so I’m expecting my mental framework to be challenged through a variety of software and hardware contexts.”

Barr said he is currently working on a piece of software that will automate a series of third-party software testing suites. Intel uses these to produce performance benchmark numbers requested by customers like Lenovo, Microsoft, HP, etc. Once complete, Barr says a user will be able to simply tell the software which tests they would like to be run, how many iterations and with what parameters.

In addition, Barr said he’s been writing software exclusively in a language that he’s had no previous experience in (Python).

“It has been a neat experience for me to take concepts I’ve learned in courses at NMU in other languages (i.e. Java, Smalltalk, C++, JavaScript) and apply them to real-world software projects at Intel that will impact my team members directly.”

In his experience at NMU thus far, Barr said his favorite part about the university is the fact that the courses are challenging and thought provoking.

“The professors are always willing to give extra help when you need. I love the fact that a professor, not a graduate student, is teaching the class. I don’t think you’re going to find that at a Big Ten school.

“All in all, in my time at NMU I’ve met a lot of amazing people and made some really great friends along the way. Although I’ve only been at Intel for five weeks or so, I’ve already met some pretty awesome people, and I can imagine I’ll have great things to say when my internship ends!”

Way to go Don!

[northernstories]

Students from Northern Michigan University are completing awesome internships!

Tristan Ruiz, a biochemistry major from Richmond Hill, Ga., is working as a student participant in the University of Louisville’s Medical and Dental Education Program this summer.

At this program, Ruiz will be taking a three credit hour course called Intro to the Foundations of Biomedical Sciences, participating in physician shadowing opportunities, attending events and seminars and exploring the medical profession. He’ll have homework, quizzes and exams throughout the summer.

“I am looking forward to participating in this program because it will be a great opportunity to experience the medical profession very intimately and give me insight that I would not be able to get at other places. It’s even more amazing because I get to stay in the dorms at the University of Louisville for free and get paid a stipend for participating. It is an overall great program, and I am expecting an awesome yet challenging six weeks there!”

Ruiz decided to come to NMU for a couple of reasons, including the affordable cost of tuition, as well as the Honors program, the Freshman Fellows program and the many student organizations on campus, including the Superior Edge program and Student Leader Fellowship Program. In addition, Ruiz will serve as the 2016-17 president of Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, the student body government here at NMU.

“My favorite thing about my major at NMU is the research opportunities this school offers for undergraduates. I have had to actually choose who I wanted to do research with because I was offered a choice between two labs on campus. The classes are very interesting, and the faculty are amazing. I know a lot of the faculty in the chemistry department, and they help me grow as a student.”

As a first year student, Ruiz had the opportunity to conduct research with Professor Brandon Canfield, Ph.D. He studied the antioxidant content of thimble berry leaves and presented a poster at a local American Chemical Society symposium, as well as at the annual Celebration of Students Works, Research and Service Learning Projects.

Way to go Tristan!