Today, on National Intern Day, we celebrate the extraordinary interns who bring fresh ideas, hard work, and enthusiasm to our team.

At Alvine Engineering, we believe that celebrating the upcoming generation of engineers and supplying them with the tools, experience, and mentorship necessary to develop their skills creates a better, brighter tomorrow. Our current group of interns has provided our firm with fresh perspectives and eager minds that we are proud to endorse and foster as they grow in their careers.

Espen Avenson, Omaha Engineering Intern

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO PURSUE ENGINEERING?

“I took a robotics class in high school that was taught by a really cool teacher who challenged us students to embrace the design process. The class consisted of 50 minutes of creativity, trial and error, and going back to the drawing board when an idea didn’t work. I fell in love with this process and knew I wanted to pursue something in the field of engineering. The second class I took that pushed me in the direction of architectural engineering was an architectural drafting class taught by a registered architect. I already had an interest in architecture, but I really liked the physics and function of engineering. I thoroughly enjoyed the detail and precision required for drafting I learned from the class, but I still desired to do something more engineering-related. So, I found the field of architectural engineering, and I dove in!”

“While at Alvine Engineering, I have learned how to create an energy model, select equipment, communicate technical information effectively, size natural gas piping, and uniquely apply a heat pump. More generally, I have learned more about what it is to be an engineer. I have not just been given odd tasks here and there but have been challenged to come up with the solution to the problem as if I were the engineer myself. Therefore, I ultimately have had my “engineer” muscles trained. I have not only learned new skills but have learned one of the most important skills, which is how to put together all the pieces of the design process.”

“Always have a posture of humility and responsibility, and admit to yourself that you don’t have it all figured out. As engineering students, we like to think we’re smart, but exposing ourselves to more of what is out there will show us how much we have to learn. Don’t let this frighten you, but instead, let it invigorate you. Get excited about embracing the fact that you don’t know much, but you can come to know the things you need to know
to succeed.”

Jessica Olson, Omaha Engineering Intern

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY?

“The people are by far my favorite part about working in this industry! The friends I’ve made and the mentors I’ve had are like no other! Everyone is one big team working towards the same goal, and I can tell that everyone wants each other to succeed! It brings me joy to see the community Alvine Engineering has built both inside the office building with employees and outside the building with their valued clients! I’m studying Architectural Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and my class is about 25 kids. They all feel like good friends that I’ve known forever. I am looking forward to when we all graduate and watch each other succeed while doing what we love! I could not ask for a better industry environment, and I am so happy I chose a path in engineering because I know I will always have support and people who want me to succeed!”

“From the day I started, I was welcomed with open arms into Alvine Engineering. As a college student starting at a new company, the first day can be terrifying… but I felt so appreciated and like the employees were happy the interns were there. That was the most reassuring feeling, and it validated for me that I made the right decision to spend my summer at Alvine Engineering! In addition to the people, I love the projects that Alvine Engineering works on. There is such a large variety of projects going on here that I don’t think I could ever be bored or feel like I’m doing the same work over and over again. It makes me happy to see how much Alvine does in the community by working at local schools, churches, etc. I appreciate the hard work that Alvine Engineering’s employees put into producing quality work on all of their projects! I am also getting the opportunity to travel to Ohio today to see the Sherwin-Williams Corporate Headquarters building, which is an experience I’ve never had before. They truly want interns to be a part of everything the full-time employees do, and that makes me feel like a respected young professional!”

Morgan Voss, Denver Engineering Intern

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY?

“It’s a vast industry, which means there’s always something to learn. Also, it’s pretty cool to say you had even a small hand in the massive, beautiful buildings that Alvine Engineering works on.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP AT ALVINE ENGINEERING?

“I’ve made so many great connections. Everyone in the office is always willing to help and eager to answer any questions I have.”

“I didn’t have any Revit experience before starting the internship, but I’ve grown to be pretty comfortable navigating the software. Apart from the technical skills I’ve gained, I’ve learned how to communicate and ask questions more efficiently, both in person and remotely. There is so much to learn in this industry, and asking questions has helped accelerate my understanding.”

“Don’t question your skill set. Good mentors and a good company will be willing to fill in your gaps and help you become a better employee. Both hard and soft skills can always be learned and improved!“

Michael Hooper, Des Moines Engineering Intern

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY?

“I love seeing the process of the building plans come together. It can be a challenge making sure all the equipment that is getting installed will be able to fit where it needs to go, so when things start to come together, and plans start to get finalized, it’s a great feeling.”

“I have really worked on my problem-solving abilities through the mechanical and plumbing design I have done here. There is so much that goes into a building, so considering all the options for design and trying to find the best one has helped me become a better problem solver.”

“For other students looking for an engineering internship, I would just say put yourself out there; there are so many awesome companies and industries you can work in, and just going out and talking to people at, say, a career fair or industry night at school can be very beneficial to help you figure out what you want to do and can also help you land a job.“

Renee Clemensen, Des Moines Engineering Intern

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY?

“I enjoy the collaboration required to complete projects. I really enjoy working with other people, so being able to work with people from different backgrounds and disciplines is my favorite part of working in this industry.”

“I was inspired to become an engineer because of my dad. He is a software engineer and graduated from Iowa State University, and ever since I was little, I wanted to go to Iowa State and become an engineer like him.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP AT ALVINE ENGINEERING?

“My favorite part of interning with Alvine Engineering has been the diversity of projects I have been on. Being able to work on projects across different industries has expanded my knowledge and skillset greatly.”

Mitchell Rachow, Omaha Engineering Intern

“My advice for other students looking for an internship is to get one early so you can get an early understanding of what kinds of projects you like, what style of company you like, and what size of company you like. This early information allows you to narrow down your choices for your next internship or potential job. This early internship also gives you a great head start in the engineering world. I had an internship in the summer between my sophomore and junior year, and even though I mostly only did drafting, I got a greater understanding of why we do certain things from asking questions.”

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY?

“The thing I like most about working in the industry are problems that few people have experience with. I enjoy working hard to find solutions for problems we haven’t seen before.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP AT ALVINE ENGINEERING?

“My favorite part of my internship at Alvine Engineering has been the wide variety of projects that I have gotten to be a part of. This variety of experience has made me feel more well-rounded and has challenged me to become a more versatile intern.”

Hannah Reitz, Omaha Engineering Technician Intern

“My parents were the first ones who inspired me to pursue engineering. My dad works in the industry, so my first experience with it myself was when he would bring home old construction documents and walk through them with me at the kitchen table. From that point on, I was always interested in building design and how they’re constructed and function.”

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER STUDENTS LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD?

“Make as many connections as possible! Use career fairs and networking events to take advantage of all the opportunities and industry insight that are available to you.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP AT ALVINE ENGINEERING?

“My favorite part of my internship at Alvine Engineering has been the opportunity to work on some really amazing projects with people who are proud of their work and excited to share it. These relationships have given me an opportunity to constantly learn from people who have years of experience and knowledge in
their field.”

Mark Siguenza, Oklahoma City Engineering Intern

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR INTERNSHIP AT ALVINE ENGINEERING?

“My favorite part of my internship is learning from all the more experienced staff in my office. I learn something new every day.”

“I would say, don’t knock it till you try it. I had always had my mind set on the manufacturing side of my degree, but then I got the opportunity to intern for Alvine Engineering and work in an area I never really explored before.”

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO PURSUE ENGINEERING?

“I was in a career and financial management class my sophomore year of high school, and we had to choose a career for the class; when I got into looking for careers, I did my research on engineering and saw that mechanical engineering had a variety of paths you could go down. I think it was after that class that I knew that I wanted to major in mechanical engineering.”