Oluwatomisin Olaore, a junior studying computational data science in the College of Engineering, spent the summer as a front-line IT procurement intern with PPG at the company’s headquarters in Pittsburgh. Her team provided IT solutions that drove savings and productivity for the organization. Olaore worked on three different projects, helping her gain exposure to agile methodology, functional specifications and project management. “I'm very grateful for all the connections and different individuals that I met during my time," Olaore said. "I'm leaving this internship with several new technical, professional and analytical skills. This has been an amazing experience, and I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to work at such a wonderful company.”
Luke Kerwin, who will earn a bachelor’s degree in data science from the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) in December 2024, worked at the Chick-fil-A Corporate Support Center in Atlanta as a restaurant performance insights intern this summer. At his internship's completion, Kerwin was hired to continue in a part-time capacity. “I’m thrilled (to be able) to build upon the foundation I established this summer," Kerwin said. "This opportunity allows me to continue learning from some of the brightest and most caring minds in the industry while I complete my remaining coursework at Penn State. I’m excited to continue learning, growing and building relationships with such an incredible team!”
Nelcys Guzman, a senior pursuing a degree in business administration at Penn State Scranton, participated in a management trainee internship with Enterprise Mobility this summer where she learned the essential operations of one of the world’s leading car rental brands. “From mastering customer service excellence to understanding fleet management and logistics, each day had truly been a rewarding journey of growth," Guzman said. "My supportive team has guided me through various facets of the business, including customer service and effective sales strategies that drive profits. This hands-on experience has not only honed my skills but also deepened my admiration for Enterprise Mobility’s commitment to recognition, excellence and teamwork.”
Jade Bramwell, a senior studying broadcast journalism in the Bellisario College of Communications, completed a summer internship with CNN (a business unit of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.) and a nine-week summer media fellowship in New York City. At CNN, she supported “CNN NewsNight,” hosted by Abby Phillip. "This has been a rough last few months in the news cycle and learning the ins and outs of the industry has been life changing," Bramwell said. "Being the only Black/Black woman CNN news show intern this summer is a privilege I do not take lightly. I hope the trend continues to move forward for more diverse faces in the newsroom. Thank you, T. Howard Foundation for continuing to shift the movement in media helping students like me receive internships.”
Kacie Czyszczon, a senior majoring in food science in the College of Agricultural Sciences, spent the summer with The Hershey Company as a Research and Development intern on the sensory and product insights team in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Czyszczon learned about many sensory techniques, such as descriptive analysis, by working with the Hershey Professional Taste Panel. She also worked with the materials characterization team to explore solutions to complex food analysis problems linked to physical transformation. Throughout the summer, she had the opportunity to see Hershey’s Kisses be made on the production line, bake in the Hershey test kitchens, and make Reese’s peanut butter cups in the pilot plant. “Working with iconic confectionery projects that I grew up enjoying was an incredible experience. It was exciting to apply the knowledge and skills that I've developed at Penn State to projects that have a real impact on the business.”
This photo gallery showcases the breadth of internship opportunities available to Penn State students and highlights a few of the many internship experiences that Penn State students recently completed.
Baking in the test kitchens at The Hershey Company. Studying the effects of space weather on satellite communication with NASA. Working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as a congressional intern. Planning events at the Arboretum. These activities are just a few of the many experiential learning and professional development opportunities that Penn State students gained through internships this summer.
A draft proposal of Penn State’s institutional strategic plan has been unveiled and shared with the community for feedback and discussion. All faculty, staff and students at all campuses are encouraged to visit the Strategic Plan website to review and provide feedback on the draft plans for four goal areas.
