Ferris State University students gain valuable work experience through internships. Internships also can confirm or redirect career decision-making, provide marketability, develop people skills and enhance classroom learning. Many academic programs require one, but the experience is encouraged regardless to provide students with a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the workplace.
Many students are participating in myriad internships this summer. Meet:
Brendan Harwood
Brendan Harwood
He is: a senior in Welding Engineering Technology from Zeeland.
His Internship and Making a Difference: is with United Launch Alliance (ULA) in Decatur, Alabama. “The company is a main provider of space launch vehicles, or rocket ships. This summer I’ve been interning with the welding engineering team working on ULA’s new program, the Vulcan rocket. ULA does a lot of work with NASA, the Space Force, and other very cool collaborations. They even built the upper stage ICPS (interim-cryogenic propulsion stage) for SLS, NASA’s rocket for the Artemis program which will soon be putting astronauts on the moon. I am making a difference by helping ULA move towards its inaugural launch of the new Vulcan Rocket program. I am working with ULA Welding Engineers to develop solutions for complex welding challenges that come with implementing a brand-new rocket program, all while representing Ferris State the best I possibly can.
How Did Ferris Help You Gain Your Internship? “Our Welding faculty set up an information session specifically for ULA, where two representatives from their weld engineering team came up to Big Rapids and spent time with our class. Through this, I was able to meet the representatives, apply, and eventually receive an offer.”
Future Plans: “This internship opportunity enthralled me with the space industry. I hope it leads to career opportunities where I could someday work for NASA as a researcher for future space missions.”
Advice for Other Students Seeking Internships: “There is such a diverse range of opportunities out there, so make sure to explore those. If you don’t want to go into a mainstream industry for your major, know that there are opportunities for Ferris students in any job field you can imagine.”
Other Campus Activities: “My favorite group that I’m involved with is my fellow staff at the UREC. I work as an Intramural Sports Supervisor, and I absolutely love working at the Student Recreation Center. I have been there since my freshman year and have met many people through it and made lifelong friends through my time with UREC.”
Ferris Core Value Brendan Relates to: Opportunity. “Getting an internship at ULA is highly sought after, and when I was
blessed with this opportunity, I told myself that I would take full advantage of it.
I feel we cannot just be happy with just receiving it when we do. We owe it to ourselves
to make the most out of opportunities we are blessed with as students, and I hope
to have done this with my summer experience at ULA.”