Skip to content
Donovan Stockdale stands on the warehouse floor wearing a safety vest during his internship with Walmart.

Student Spotlight: Donovan Stockdale

Senior Mechanical Engineering student Donovan Stockdale spent time working with Walmart in New Jersey during his internship. Stockdale credits Engineering Professional Practice for his experience.

During my time at Walmart, I got to experience many different aspects of the company that I never thought that I would get to take part in. I was based out of the Automation Engineering Department as an Automation engineering intern. My job focused mainly on the end-to-end implementation of a proof of stake project for the company. This project took place in New Jersey, which made it quite difficult to stay on top of since I was based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Through many Zoom calls and numerous trips to New Jersey, I was able to see my project through and was able to get it running before my internship presentation at the end of the term! (For those that are curious, my project is the conveyor belt that I’m standing in front of in the picture that you’re seeing.)

Throughout this process, I was able to learn about lots of different aspects of project management that I would have never had a chance to learn about otherwise. Some of those aspects included interdisciplinary team coordination through remote means, project tracking of large projects, and even the formal process of how projects like this start and finish over time. It was cool getting to see that and experience it first-hand.

I also had a chance to learn about how these fulfillment centers come to life and that process was an immense undertaking. That was especially apparent when I was able to sit in on design meetings that my manager held with the vendors that he was working with. The attention to detail needed to fully think through these places is insane and it was cool being able to see that in action.

Overall, this was a fantastic experience that I would not have been able to have without the help of the Engineering Professional Practice Office and specifically Suzanne Sawicki. I also wanted to thank my manager, Ethan Kincaid, for giving me a shot to work with him and the team at Walmart. He was essential in the success of my project, and I am eternally grateful to have received this opportunity from him. I also wanted to thank everyone else along the way, it was truly a great experience that I couldn’t have had without your help. So, to everyone involved, thank you!

Russell McCoig standing in front of a construction project during his co-op

Student Spotlight: Russell McCoig

Civil and environmental engineering student Russell McCoig co-oped in Louisville, Kentucky from January-December 2022 with EMJ Construction.

“My co-op experience allowed me to see the construction process in the field and how designs don’t always work out perfectly, but that’s okay. Going into this experience, I had just transferred from the electrical engineering program and wanted to experience civil life firsthand to aid me in my design choices by seeing how they could affect construction. I worked on a job site in Louisville, Kentucky for the entirety of my co-op supervising the construction of a senior living facility that covered a total of over 200,000 square feet,” said McCoig. “During this time, I worked on several high-value tasks including fire protection, RFIs, punch list, and a granite log that was at the request of the architect and owner. These tasks taught me a lot about how to work with people of all backgrounds and how to be the one who was able to talk with these individuals to ensure a smooth process in all aspects whether it be an OAC or an inspection. Most importantly, this experience taught me that the most important part of engineering is being adaptable and understanding that something can always be improved upon.”

When asked what advice he had for other Engineering students who participate in co-op and internship programs, McCoig said, “Everyone should combine their educational time here with at least one work assignment. These provide nothing but benefits and thanks to the number of partnerships that the university has, everyone can find an opportunity that’s the best fit for them. Even if you don’t believe that a co-op is for you, there are multiple opportunities in internships and local part-time assignments. Maybe you want to do a year straight through like I did and travel to explore new places? There is not only one way to do it and fortunately, the number of opportunities available to us is seemingly endless.”

While summarizing his thoughts on the experiences provided by participating in a program through Engineering Professional Practice, he said, “None of this would have been possible without the hard work of the Engineering Professional Practice staff. I have attended three expos and have left with an offer to expand my education through a work assignment at every expo. EPP puts so much work and dedication into helping us as future engineers. I implore you to go by, today, and talk to the lovely staff there and start working on furthering your career and knowledge as an engineer today!”

Riya Patel standing in front of John Sevier Combined Cycle Plant

Student Spotlight: Riya Patel

Electrical Engineering major Riya Patel provides advice and tips for students who are seeking internships and co-ops.  Riya also shares stories from her journey through internships and co-ops with multiple companies.

Throughout my career, I had the opportunity to participate in multiple internships. I completed 2 summer terms with Eastman. There were several important projects that I worked on during this time.

After completing my first term of internship at Eastman in the summer of 2021, I accepted an offer at TVA in the fall of 2021 as a power operations intern. There were several benefits that I enjoyed while working at TVA. Currently, I will be completing my 4th term at TVA. It had been a pleasure working with the group. Going to plant visits for work really excites me since I’ve been expanding my knowledge and learning new concepts every single day. Working as an intern/coop while studying in school helps you to build not only your engineering skills but also your communications, documentation, management/leadership skills. Studying the concepts in school and then implementing those concepts in the real-life application helps you gain a lot of practical experience. These opportunities have helped add to the success of my early engineering career.

This summer I have accepted an internship to work in a control group at Burns and McDonnell in Atlanta. I cannot wait to start this new and different experience. I do believe that the more internship experience you achieve, the easier it is to find your specific work interests.  Internships and co-ops not only help you boost your skills but also motivates you to stand out during your real-world challenges. I encourage everyone to look for any available internship opportunities because it is important to learn how to convert skills taught in the classroom into practical applications. There are many career opportunities and job fairs organized by UTK such as the Engineering Expo, VolTrek, and other networking events. I got my very first internship opportunity at an Engineering Expo. Also, a fun part of internships is relocation, since this will help you explore more cities and help figure out where you want to live when you accept a full-time position.

My mentors have done a great job making my engineering career successful. I would like to thank my managers/supervisor and mentors for their guidance and support. I also would like to thank the office of Engineering Professional Practice for organizing all the job fairs and networking events which help students with their internship/co-op opportunities and careers.

Blake Zegiestowsky posing in front of a black Mercedes Benz SUV

Student Spotlight: Blake Zegiestowsky

Mechanical engineering major Blake Zegiestowsky completed a co-op with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc. in Vance, Alabama during the spring and summer semesters of 2022 and now, in the spring and summer semesters of 2023.

Going into this Co-op, I had no idea what an engineer in the automotive industry did. I learned so much more than I expected. Now, I understand all the engineering roles in the automotive industry and which of them I like and dislike. I had the opportunity to work in three different departments: quality, R&D for electronics, and my favorite, R&D for powertrain & chassis components. My communication skills improved exponentially, since I did everything from explaining processes to production workers to presenting results and findings to upper-level management. Since Mercedes-Benz is a German company, I learned how to speak German since around half of my co-workers were ex-pats from Germany. I also worked with engineers from Mexico, China, India, South Africa, Columbia, France, and South Korea, so I am accustomed to diversity.

I worked on some awesome projects that I am very proud of. I designed a part from scratch used on four car lines in the United States, Germany, and China. I had no previous experience with 3D modeling, so I had to teach myself as I went. I 3D printed 11 prototypes and tested them on over 350 cars. Once I landed on an optimal design, I sent samples to our Mercedes-Benz plants in Germany and China to try, and they were very impressed. I researched which material and manufacturing process would be best for mass-producing this part. I decided to get the part injection molded in Nylon 12. I then had to alter my design to make it compatible with injection molding. I reached out to multiple suppliers to compare costs and lead times. Finally, I worked with logistics to implement this part in the United States, Germany, and China. I learned everything about the design process from start to finish with this project.

Initially, I was skeptical about doing a Co-op because I did not want to take any semesters off and delay my graduation. Now looking back, it is the best decision I have ever made. I realized there is so much more to engineering than the classes you take in school. I now have a completely different outlook on my career. I know exactly what I want to do, and I am ready to hit the ground running!

Students speaking with employers at the engineering expo 2022

Tickle College of Engineering Spring Expo Returns to Student Union March 1

March drawing closer means three things at UT each year: Winter is winding down, basketball is about to hit tournament season, and the spring Engineering Expo will soon draw hundreds of hopeful future co-op and intern students from the Tickle College of Engineering for two days of getting to know potential employers.

“The Engineering Expo is incredibly important to our office and, as importantly, to the students in our college,” said Tonya Shortt, interim director of the Office of Engineering Professional Practice which hosts the event each spring and fall. “Gaining that ‘in-the-field’ experience before graduation is something the college feels is important for our students, as it helps set them up for future success once they have graduated.”

Held at the Student Union on March 1st from 1-4:30, the first day of the event will feature up to 150 companies, with every major being represented by several potential employers.

Students will spend that day visiting booths from sponsors that draw their interest. Then, on March 2nd, students and sponsors that had mutual interest after the first day have a 30-minute interview to see if a connection can be made that leads to an offer. On average across all majors, students earn $3,200 per month while with their company or organization.

Those experiences can come when students alternate semesters between school and work, although some students opt to seek their opportunities during the summer break. More than 70 percent of eligible students take part annually.

Participating companies with ties to the area include American Accessories International, Denso, Volkswagen, KUB, Nucleon Power, Malibu Boats, Pilot Flying J., MAHLE, CGI, and Clayton Homes. National and international companies including Honda, BMW, Kia, Idaho National Laboratory, Prime Controls, Safire Technology Group, Smith + Nephew, and Texas Instruments are also taking part.

The Office of Engineering Professional Practice was founded in 1926 to help engineering students add experience to their education and prepare for the transition from student to employee. The office maintains relationships with more than 500 businesses and interacts with more than 1,500 undergraduate and graduate students each year, helping them achieve more than 700 annual placements with participating companies.

Student Spotlight: Taylor Rogers

Taylor Rogers poses in front of a wall of basball cards.

Taylor Rogers

Taylor Rogers, senior in computer science, interned in summer 2021 with Eastman Chemical and for summer 2022 interned with Major League Baseball in New York City.

This assignment has been an incredible opportunity to expand industry-specific knowledge, foster connections with a variety of people, and develop as a young professional.

As a Baseball Operations intern, I have particularly enjoyed gaining insight into various aspects of MLB.

I encourage you to visit the Engineering Professional Practice and take advantage of resources it offers. Whether you would like help with your resume, interview tips, or advice in navigating a career, the Engineering Professional Practice staff is there to assist.

After this role, I will have worked for two unique companies. Not only are the companies in different industries, but the groups in which I interned are also very different. One of my takeaways from my contrasting experiences is that although certain skills may seem job-specific, many are transferable. This point motivates me to lean into each task, conversation, or event I have as it presents an opportunity to grow and prepare for the future.

Carson Foy wears a bright yellow high-visibility vest as he stands in front a white Toyota that is raised on a rack in a garage.

Student Spotlight: Carson Foy

Mechanical engineering major Carson Foy worked in the Quality Department at JTEKT in Vonore, Tennessee, a team is responsible for ensuring that every electric power-steering gear being shipped to customers is within specifications and up to quality standards.

As a co-op, I had the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience in the automotive industry. I worked alongside many engineers and technicians in various departments around the plant. Though every day was different, most of the projects that I was involved in were ultimately to help improve the quality and efficiency of the production lines, or to help fix pressing issues facing the plant.

One daily responsibility I had was to perform steering gear tear-downs and performance testing for problem analysis from our production lines, customer line returns, or warranty returns. The type of analysis and testing done to a gear depended on the problem, and I was able to learn how to use various specialized equipment and machines, MCU diagnostic softwares, and metrology tools to analyze the root cause of an issue.

I also had the opportunity to improve my modeling skills with Solidworks to design and 3D print prototypes for various tools, pokayoke systems, and master fixturing, some of which were machined and implemented onto the production line.

Through this co-op experience, I was able to learn a ton about manufacturing, quality, and working with many people of different backgrounds. It was extremely rewarding to apply the theoretical knowledge I am learning in my classes to real world problems in an industry setting, and it made me excited about any future opportunities I may get in the industry.

Kasthuri Pillapalayam

Student Spotlight: Kasthuri Pillapalayam

Kasthuri Pillapalayam got the opportunity to work at Collins Aerospace as a manufacturing engineer ntern in summer 2022. She worked at their Troy, Ohio, site, which manufactures wheels and brakes for many commercial and military clients.

My main project this past summer has been to work on process maps and develop standard work for our chemical lines. I collaborated with a lot of the engineers that installed our equipment, operators that had been working the chemical lines for years, and also with our EHS analysts to develop our standard work. I also assisted in the process improvement of our wastewater treatment by providing suggestions for preventative maintenance.

Having learned about standard work, process maps, and preventative maintenance in my industrial engineering classes, this internship showed me the importance of its real-world implementation, and gave so much more meaning to what I study in school.

This internship has been an amazing opportunity to learn more about the aerospace industry, especially the six different business units part of Collins. We were able to listen to and ask questions to executives in avionics, interiors, power & controls, and advanced structures every week.

Additionally, I was able to network with individuals in continuous improvement, shipping, procurement, quality, engineering management, materials, and many other departments. This gave me the ability to identify what full-time roles I might be interested in after graduation.

After having an amazing internship experience, I highly recommend any current engineering students to apply for an internship or co-op.  And be sure you visit the Engineering Professional Practice Office. It truly adds another dimension of value to your education!

Joshua Morcos

Student Spotlight: Joshua Morcos

Joshua Morcos, a mechanical engineering major, worked a co-op assignment with Altec in their fabrication area—”Fab” for short. He shares his experience working with the company.

Fab is the very beginning of the manufacturing process. We make all the parts that are used downstream to assemble a utility truck body. Our task was to ensure that parts were accurate to the engineering drawing and within tolerance.

I was in charge of implementing safety and efficiency improvements as deemed necessary. I worked to ensure all machine operators were well equipped to run their respective machines. I led a project related to a material quality issue that ensured the correct type of steel was used in certain applications. I created a digital report in SQL that displayed to supervisors what the Fab department was working on and jobs that we have incoming. I also led a project testing a new type of adhesive used to adhere metal together. I learned about writing SQL code and creating SSRS reports, as well as general manufacturing processes, and more about tolerances and interpreting a drawing.

Addison Cable

Addison Cable

Addison Cable is a junior in mechanical engineering who interned in summer 2022 with Industrial Project Innovation (IPI), a project management company that works on projects throughout the country. Addison worked in St. Louis, Missouri, as a project management intern.

I learned so much from my internship experience. I was exposed to an entirely new career path that I otherwise would not have had the chance to explore. Project management isn’t a part of the mechanical engineering curriculum, but it was a really great experience for me. Construction is a really interesting field and you get to experience new things every day.

I learned a lot during my internship about other engineering disciplines and how to integrate them into a project. I also learned a lot about reading and interpreting drawings, especially pipe drawings.

I believe that co-ops and internships are an absolutely vital part of our education as engineers and make us much better in our roles. Both my co-op and internship have taught me so much about both engineering and myself! They were also very valuable in teaching me the aspects of each job that I liked and disliked, which in turn has helped me to decide the path I hope for my career to take. I truly believe that accepting a co-op or internship is the single most important thing you can do as an engineering student.

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.

View our Privacy Policy.