Rose-Hulman Summer Internships 2026: Building Stronger Communities

For Rose-Hulman students, engineering is about more than what can be built; it is about who it can impact. Through their internships this summer, these students worked on projects that are helping shape stronger communities, from major construction projects and manufacturing to infrastructure and utility improvements.

Andrew Mrozinske: AECOM HUnt

Andrew Mrozinske, a senior civil engineering student from La Porte, Indiana, spent his summer in New York City as a construction intern with AECOM Hunt, contributing to work on the John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 6 project.

Mrozinske assisted project managers, directors, executives, and general superintendents, gaining firsthand experience in the construction industry while supporting one of the nation’s largest airport development projects.

“It allowed me to travel to NYC for the summer and experience life in a big city,” Mrozinske said.

Through his internship, Mrozinske gained valuable insight into project management and the realities of large-scale construction projects.

“No project is perfect,” he said. “The biggest failures and problems are the greatest lessons to take away from the situation, and you will learn from your mistakes.”

Mrozinske’s long-term goal is to be in project management. He credits Rose-Hulman’s strong alumni network for helping him take an important first step toward that career.

“My boss, Chris Bauer, is a Rose-Hulman graduate, and the school was able to connect us together and get my foot in the door at AECOM. From here, I can get introductory experience in the construction field and continue to grow and build from what I’ve learned,” Mrozinske said.

Jayden O'Dell: Walt Disney Imagineering

Jayden O’Dell, a senior engineering design major from Suwanee, Georgia, is pursuing a concurrent master’s in engineering management through the Rose Squared program. She spent her summer at Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando, Florida, helping bring Disney’s newest themed land to life.

As a construction management intern, O’Dell is working on Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, supporting the development of the new immersive “Monsters, Inc.”-themed land as construction continues.

“I enjoy the fact that every day is different and there is always something going on,” O’Dell shared. “It’s a very rapid and exciting environment here at Walt Disney Imagineering. There’s always something amazing happening!”

O'Dell hopes to build a career in the themed entertainment industry with Walt Disney Imagineering. She said Rose-Hulman’s collaborative learning environment has prepared her to work across multiple disciplines while strengthening the communication and teamwork skills she uses every day.

Beyond the technical experience, O’Dell has found that some of the biggest lessons have come from the relationships she’s built throughout the summer.

O’Dell said, “It’s way more fun coming to work when you’ve built a relationship with the people around you. Having a relationship with your peers and coworkers makes asking the questions that may seem silly so much easier. We’re all in this together!”  

Joey Denison: American-Newlong

Designing faster robots, optimizing manufacturing processes, and gaining hands-on electrical experience filled junior mechanical engineering student Joey Denison’s summer as an industrial automation engineering intern with American-Newlong in Mooresville, Indiana. Originally from Nashville, Indiana, Denison is simultaneously pursuing both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering through the Rose Squared program, along with a minor in language and literature.

Throughout his internship, Denison experienced every stage of the automation process. Denison began the internship by assisting with shop operations, including wiring junction boxes, preparing electrical cabinets, organizing materials, and learning alongside experienced engineers and technicians. As the summer progressed, he transitioned into redesigning and optimizing components for robotic end-of-arm tooling, applying finite element analysis (FEA) and design for manufacturing (DFM) principles to improve efficiency while reducing production costs.

One of his favorite aspects of the internship was the independence he was given to contribute in meaningful ways.

“I’ve really enjoyed the flexibility in my role,” Denison said. "I’m given very little structure, which has allowed me to branch out and identify ways that I can uniquely help. I’ve tried to balance my role between value-added work and organizational work to simultaneously gain experience while improving our process.”

Denison hopes to build a career in structural analysis, studying how critical components perform under stress and why they fail. He credits Rose-Hulman’s coursework and faculty mentorship with preparing him for that path.

“The classes that I’ve taken and the advice that I’ve gotten from the professors that I’ve worked with have been indispensable in the goal,” he explained. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Rose!”

Luke Gaston: Citizens Energy Group

Senior mechanical engineering student, Luke Gaston, from Indianapolis, Indiana, spent his summer with Citizens Energy Group as an underground engineering and construction intern, helping support efforts to replace lead service lines throughout the city.

Gaston primarily worked with Citizens Energy Group’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program, a free initiative that helps Indianapolis homeowners replace lead water service lines connected to their homes. The program supports both federal regulations requiring the removal of lead piping and state-backed efforts to improve water infrastructure.

His responsibilities included collecting customer contact information and lead service line data, organizing records for customer outreach, and supporting required sampling efforts to ensure compliance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

One of Gaston’s favorite parts of the internship was the opportunity to visit project sites and see utility work firsthand.

“My favorite site visit had to have been going to the DigIndy tunnel station at one of the water treatment plants and getting to go 250 feet underground in a massive tunnel. It was quite a unique experience,” Gaston said.

Gaston’s career goal is to earn his Professional Engineer certification and pursue a career in the civil and utility industry. He said Rose-Hulman’s rigorous coursework and strong professional network have helped prepare him for his career, including connecting him with practicing engineers and fellow students preparing for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.

One of the most valuable lessons Gaston has learned through his internship experience is how to adapt to unfamiliar situations and ask questions when needed.

Gaston said, “I think the most valuable skill I’ve learned is the ability to learn when you don’t know anything. Being put in a new job brings a lot of uncertainty, but asking questions helps you adapt, learn quickly, and grow.”

Palmer Schmidt: Kiewit Building Group 

Helping with the construction of a nursing facility for adults with severe disabilities, sophomore civil engineering student Palmer Schmidt spent his summer as a field engineer intern with Kiewit Building Group in Seattle, Washington. Schmidt is from Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Schmidt worked alongside project teams to keep construction moving safely and efficiently. His responsibilities ranged from communicating with subcontractors and documenting the project process to attending meetings and monitoring work in the field to help ensure safety standards were met.

The variety of work and the willingness of experienced professionals to share their knowledge made the internship especially rewarding.

Schmidt shared, “My favorite thing about my internship so far is that it is very learning-focused, and everyone in my office is willing to help me learn how to do new things and be better at my job.”

Schmidt hopes to pursue a career as a design engineer focused on developing innovative water system solutions. He said Rose-Hulman is helping him work toward that goal by preparing him for graduate study in environmental science while providing opportunities to gain relevant industry experience.

One lesson that stood out throughout Schmidt’s internship was the importance of integrity in engineering.

Schmidt said, “Take ownership of your mistakes and ask for help, and usually it isn’t all that big of a deal. It is when you leave a mistake to fester and try to cover it up that it becomes a true problem.”

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