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HARRISBURG, PA – At Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU), students take center stage. Each month, our Student Spotlight will shine a light on the internships, new jobs, published research, and many other ways our learners are demonstrating their skills in science, business, technology, and more – and making an impact in Central Pennsylvania and far beyond.

This Spotlight is generated through the exemplary connections between academia and industry – a key tenet of operations at HU.

This summer, three Harrisburg University students completed a first-of-its-kind residency with Members 1st Federal Credit Union (FCU). These students complemented their academics by bringing their talents into the workforce and demonstrating why STEM skills are so vital in the modern financial industry.

“This is truly a testament to the Learn, Work, Earn model we promote through the residency program,” said Rebekah Harriger, Senior Director of Career Services & Experiential Learning at HU.

“The Harrisburg University partnership has been a wonderful experience for the students and our passionate development team at Members 1st Federal Credit Union,” said Mark Coleman, VP of Software Engineering at Members 1st. “The synergy between these two strong organizations has showcased the immense talent the University is bringing to Central Pennsylvania while providing mentorship opportunities as they build custom software solutions for our membership. This partnership allows the team to develop teaching skills and fosters a learning environment. Technology evolves rapidly, and integrating this approach into our team culture has been incredible to witness.”

One of these students is Joseph DeLaPlaine ’26, a Computer and Information Sciences (CISC) major enrolled in HU’s Five-Year Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Program.

What initially drew you to this program?

“I was clear to me how great an opportunity this would be. I wanted to not only gain actual professional experience in software engineering, but also use this experience to help further my career after I finished my degree at HU.”

How did you find out about this opportunity?

“Brian Grey, one of my professors at Harrisburg University, shared this opportunity with me. He felt I was a perfect candidate for the program and should submit my application. I followed this advice and was lucky enough to be accepted!”

What was your role and primary responsibilities?

“My main role was Software Engineer Trainee. In this role, I learned how the profession works, including policies and tools that a software engineer follows and uses in the workplace. I also used what I’ve been learning to improve and modify their banking app and website on both the front- and back-end. I was assisted by the team whenever I needed help and was constantly given useful advice and feedback. Learning was my main responsibly, but I was also given more challenging tasks that helped continue my growth and provided a benefit to the team.”

How did the program help you develop skills and knowledge for your career?

“The program has been incredibly useful when it comes to developing skills and knowledge for my career in software engineering. The entire time I have been in program, I have been learning something new. This includes many of the standard techniques that software engineers use, such source control and agile development, as well as working with necessary tools, such as Azure DevOps and Git. By having been a part of this residency program, I was able to easily see how different schooling is from working in the field, and see how what I have learned in class can be used in my career.”

Do you have any advice for someone looking into a similar career field or program?

“Go into these experiences with an open mind and expect to make mistakes. You will be constantly learning – it will be next to impossible to get it right the first time. Instead, continually strive to do your best, while making sure to accept any help that you are offered, so that you don’t make the same mistake twice. This will improve your work and your experience, and help you become a useful and respected member of your team.”

“Joe is the kind of student who sees the big picture,” said Brian Grey, Instructor of Computer and Information Sciences (CISC) and Program Lead for CISC Online. “Like any software engineer, he has an eye for the details. But he also wants to understand the ‘why’ of a task and is able to suggest process improvements without changing the underlying design. This is why he is a value-add on any project. Plus, Joe is the type of person who is always willing to help. Joe exemplifies these qualities that we try to nurture in our students, so they have a greater impact at the University, at work, and in the community at-large.”

Harrisburg University congratulates and thanks each of the learners featured in this ongoing Student Spotlight feature for their contributions to our institution and our communities. We see the difference you’re making, and we can’t wait to watch how your development continues from here!

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on XLinkedInInstagram, and Facebook.