HARRISBURG, PA — Happy National Intern Day 2026! Every year, National Intern Day recognizes interns across the country who are making meaningful contributions to their organizations. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) students are no exception.
At HU, experiential learning is at the core of every student’s education. Through applied research and internships, students gain hands-on experience that prepares them to thrive in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, biotechnology, engineering, healthcare, business, and more.
Internships offer far more than a line on a resume. They allow students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, build professional networks, develop in-demand skills, and explore potential career paths before graduation. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the average intern conversion rate reached 63.1% for 2024–25 interns — the highest it has been in five years. This demonstrates that internships continue to be one of the strongest pathways from the classroom to a full-time career.
For employers, internships provide an opportunity to identify and develop future talent; for students, they offer valuable experience and a direct path toward employment.
In honor of National Intern Day, we’re highlighting a few Harrisburg University students who are spending their summer gaining valuable experience, making an impact in their organizations, and taking meaningful steps toward their future careers.
Jennifer Paul ’28
Major: Master of Science in Information Systems Engineering and Management
Internship: NASCAR Engineering Fellow at GM Motorsports
What are some of your internship duties? Data analysis and reporting, vehicle systems testing procedures, automating processes. I get projects that are applicable to all types of racing, such as NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? This internship is getting me closer to my career goal of becoming a race engineer.
Have you had a mentor or supervisor who has made an impact on your experience? I have learned and am actively learning the key to having an eye and ear for detail. Something as small as 0.02” can have an impact on vehicle performance. My mentor was a crew chief for a NASCAR team, and I’m learning from his experiences and mentoring.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Get your hands dirty and be hands-on as fast as possible. Number crunching alone isn’t going to make you a better engineer.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? The University as a whole, but especially Tom Wise, Matthew Rissler, LJ Holmes, and Stephanie Lake.
Any Perez ’27
Major: Bachelor of Science in Biology
Internship: Scientific and Technical Intern at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
What are some of your internship duties? I test asphalt samples from state roads through ignition, density, and maximum theoretical specific gravity tests. So far, I am proudest of getting certified to perform density testing at my facility.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Make the most of the HU Career Fair! If you don’t know where to start when looking for internships, research employers invited to the fair.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I’m thankful to Emily Lupi, as she has been especially supportive and helpful throughout my internship process.
Joseph Rizzuto ’27
Major: Bachelor of Science in Game Design
Internship: Wargame Designer and Playtester under the Department of Strategic Wargaming at the United States Army War College (USAWC)
What are some of your internship duties? Playtesting and modifying an existing wargame made by Lieutenant Colonel Dustin Durst, a War College graduate. Assisting with the production process of various other wargaming projects and being available for additional playtests. Participating in informational lectures, conferences, and events to more accurately tailor my work to the targeted audience of War College students and professors.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? I initially pursued this opportunity out of curiosity, to learn about a side of the games industry I hadn’t touched before at length: wargames. Yet, my experience at the War College has given me some thought of future career prospects as a wargame designer as a good fallback option. While this may not be my preferred avenue regarding game design and development, I acknowledge the potential of pursuing this career path in the future if the opportunity arises.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Be open to trying different avenues for your career path, as these experiences broaden your horizons in terms of your career. Finding opportunities out of your initial comfort zone can be helpful in the long run, especially when it comes to networking and discovering new career paths.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Dr. Greg Loring-Albright for providing information about this position and personally recommending me for this opportunity, and Emily Lupi for connecting me to the proper USAWC internship coordinators and helping me secure this position.
Kirtankumar Patel ’26
Major: Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences
Internship: Quantum Technology Intern at SE&M Solutions LLC
What are some of your internship duties? I assist with designing and developing secure software solutions, implementing authentication features, testing applications, documenting technical work, and collaborating with the development team to improve functionality, security, and user experience.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? My favorite part has been working on real projects that have meaningful impact while collaborating with experienced developers. It’s been exciting to see how software is built in a professional environment and contribute to the development process.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? This internship has reinforced my interest in software engineering and secure application development. It has motivated me to continue learning about cloud technologies, cybersecurity, and building reliable software that solves real-world problems.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Don’t be afraid to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification. Build personal projects, keep learning, and be open to feedback. Showing initiative and a willingness to learn can make a strong impression.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I’d like to thank the Career Services and Experiential Learning team for helping students connect with valuable internship opportunities. I’d also like to thank Professor Chad Chu, my academic advisor, for his guidance, encouragement, and continued support throughout my time at Harrisburg University.
Jade Haller ’28
Major: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Information Technology
Internship: IT Support Analyst Intern at Rolka Loube
What are some of your internship duties? Some of my duties included providing tech support to all Rolka Loube employees. I also took care of the company’s old laptops. For example, taking the hard drives out, noting their specifications, and putting them into different categories based on use. Finally, I was given hands-on experience in Rolka Loube’s server room, and I got to observe the Command Line Interface configurations on the switch.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? This internship with Rolka Loube has made me realize that culture at companies is extremely important. This opportunity also furthered the importance of not only a good wage, but also good benefits when considering careers. Rolka Loube cares about their employees, and it really showed. It makes me realize how amazing smaller companies can be.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Don’t give up when one internship doesn’t work out. Keep your head held high and keep trying.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would like to thank Emily Lupi and Lynnsae Powers for the opportunity to go to the Harrisburg University Career Fair. If it wasn’t for the Career Fair, I would not have had this opportunity to intern with Rolka Loube.
Arun Kumar Ravi ’26
Major: Master of Science in Information Systems Engineering and Management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Business concentration
Internship: Student Developer for the ShareHelp Foundation with the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)
What are some of your internship duties? I build web applications on the Softr platform for the nonprofit organizations supported by ShareHelp. Each app addresses a real use case identified by my supervisor, Dave, to help the nonprofits he works with. I also implement workflow integrations that connect these Softr apps to HubSpot using Zapier — for example, automating contact creation and incident creation so the data flows where it needs to go.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Keep an open mind and be willing to explore tools and technologies you haven’t used before. With AI, you can pick up unfamiliar platforms quickly and once you do, the possibilities are huge. Don’t count yourself out of an internship just because you don’t already know the tech; the willingness to learn it matters more.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Jay Jayamohan and Michael Hughes from CIE, and Professor Phil Grim.
Jordan Worrobah ’27
Major: Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences
Internship: Data Analyst Intern at Year Up United
What are some of your internship duties? Cleaning and normalizing data to build business insights. I’ve been able to develop my skills in SQL, Python, Power BI, and Excel.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? This has given me confidence in myself and my ability to learn skills and how they need to be applied into the workforce.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Don’t close your options; the goal of an internship is to get experience.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I want to thank all my professors — they really helped me through the internship process and were very patient.
Dan Wood ’27
Major: Bachelor of Science in Game Design
Internship: Technology Development Intern at Valhallan Sports Training
What are some of your internship duties? I am building minigames that are eventually going to be incorporated into an LMS-like (learning management system) program that tracks the play history and skill development of Valhallan students and can even facilitate assignments written by instructors.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? I am free to work on my own schedule and at my own pace. Having that degree of freedom is really helpful for figuring out effective routines through experimentation and trial/error.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Dr. Loring-Albright, for going along with what I assume was an unusual idea: creating my own position/project to take on as an intern, rather than applying for a position the company had posted.
Joshua Torres ’29
Major: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Information Technology
Internship: Information Technology Intern at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of Administration
What are some of your internship duties? Shadowing Customer Success Managers, business meetings, and creating flowcharts.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? This made me more curious about the different fields of IT and gave me the opportunity to experience what it’s like to work in IT for the Commonwealth.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? I recommend looking for an internship in something you’re interested in, because then you can figure out how it is behind the scenes and if you truly like it or not. Also, make sure it’s a paid internship.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I’d like to thank my friends and all the staff at HU. I don’t know where I would be without them.
Jourdan Carrero ’27
Major: Bachelor of Science in Game Design
Internship: Intern at Luna Wolf Studios
What are some of your internship duties? Assisting with game design concepts, participating in team meetings, collaborating with developers and artists on project implementations, testing and debugging game features, contributing to the overall creative process of game development.
What project, task, or accomplishment are you most proud of at this point? I have been working on a team of six people, and in only a month we have a fully functional game prototype demo built in Unity. We all contributed to manifesting and planning this game project, and now it’s amazing to see it actually working. What I’m most proud of is designing one of the main features within the game and actually getting it to function exactly like our team discussed when brainstorming the game concept.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? This internship has given me a taste of the games industry. If anything, I believe that this internship has inspired me to keep persisting with my dreams of working in a larger studio as a level or systems designer.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Do not be afraid to talk to and ask your professors about any internship opportunities or if you’re struggling to find any internship positions. Your professors are there to help you, and they most likely have connections with people in your desired industry.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would like to thank Dr. Greg Loring-Albright for connecting me with the co-founder of Luna Wolf Studios and teaching me game design principles and practices that have been very helpful throughout my internship. His guidance and support played a pivotal role in how I continue to grow as a game designer and succeed in my position.
LaMont Randolph Jr. ’27
Major: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Business Analytics concentration
Internship: Intern at Rolka Loube
What are some of your internship duties? Some of my duties are categorizing, summarizing, classifying, separating, modifying, and labeling classified files for the FCC and a variety of different clients of the FCC.
How has this internship shaped your career goals? The internship shaped and sort of modified my career goals. Working for Rolka Loube, I learned that I don’t have to stay in the box of “Business Analysis,” but I could also find a sector of analysis that I enjoy even more, like government policy, private equity, etc.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? I would tell them to just simply be patient. I had been looking for an internship since my sophomore year, and only just landed one in the summer entering my senior year. Good things take time. Slow motion is better than no motion.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would like to thank Professor Zagerman and Emily Lupi. They both have played a pivotal role in me landing and being successful in this internship.
Chinasa Oseghale ’26
Major: Master of Science in Project Management, Agile Lean concentration
Internship: Project Manager Intern at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)
What are some of your internship duties? Coordinating multiple Agile software development projects from planning through delivery. Facilitating daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospective meetings. Tracking project milestones, deliverables, timelines, and team progress using Agile methodologies. Maintaining project schedules and ensuring timely completion of assigned tasks. Serving as the primary liaison between founders, developers, designers, and university leadership. Communicating project updates, risks, and action items to stakeholders. Coordinating onboarding and offboarding activities for student interns. Scheduling meetings, demos, and stakeholder presentations.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? My advice would be to approach your internship with curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn beyond your assigned responsibilities. The experience and connections you gain can be just as valuable as what you learn in the classroom.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Dr. Philip Grim and Jay Jayamohan.
David Umberger ’27
Major: Master of Science in Analytics
Internship: Risk Data/Analytics Intern at Huntington National Bank
What are some of your internship duties? Developed three distinct retail credit risk sub-models within an LGD framework for the RV/Marine business lines. Collaborated with modeling leadership on feature selection and transformed complex statistical outputs (PROC MEANS, PROC LOGISTIC) into targeted executive dashboards and data visualizations. Selected to present a dual-pillar Fair Banking strategy (Fair Start Shield and Huntington Business Pathways) to the Executive Leadership Panel during the Bank Innovation Showcase.
If you could give one piece of advice to another HU student looking for an internship, what would it be? Volume. You will need to apply to a number of roles and be flexible and open to a number of opportunities.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Emily Lupi has been great. I have enjoyed her webinars, and the one-on-one meetings have been insightful.
Harrisburg University was built on a foundation of experiential learning and real impact. Our sincere thanks to each of these exceptional student interns for sharing their stories with us!
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Director of Communications for Harrisburg University, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724.
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