HARRISBURG, PA — Happy National Intern Day 2025! Every year, National Intern Day celebrates interns across the country who are making a meaningful contribution to their organizations, and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) students are no exception.
At HU, every student gains real-world experience through both applied research and an internship in their field, giving graduates a competitive edge in high-growth fields like advanced manufacturing, forensics, healthcare, and more.
While internships are often viewed as “resume builders,” research shows they deliver far more: internships help students break into competitive industries. In fact, 60% of employers say internships give them the chance to assess potential hires in a real-world setting. These experiences are becoming a key part of how companies build their future workforce and a crucial steppingstone for students looking to launch a career in their desired field. Internships are also helping students build confidence, communication skills, mentorship relationships, and career clarity.
Furthermore, research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reveals that early career professionals who engaged in experiential learning, such as internships, reported faster-than-expected career progression, higher rates of career satisfaction, and an average of $15,000 more in annual salary compared to their peers who did not participate in such experiences.
In honor of National Intern Day, we’re proud to share the stories of a few HU students who are putting their education into action across a variety of industries this summer:
Corin Andrews ‘28
Major: Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering & Mathematical Sciences
Internship: Lab Intern at Sciperio
What are some of your internship duties? Some of my responsibilities include CAD (computer-aided design), Electronics, Programming, 3D Printing, and Diagnostics.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? Some skills that I have improved in are CAD, Engineering Presentations, and Materials Specifications.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? My favorite part of my job is that it is different every single day. I’m not stuck doing the same thing day after day.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? For aspiring interns, I would suggest that any “down-time” experience should be used to improve or prepare for the next task. Don’t just wait for work to come to you.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would personally like to thank LJ Holmes for his support throughout this process, and for reaching out to this company so that I could have this opportunity. I would also like to thank Professor Glenn Williams and Dr. Richard Pitts for their support through my internship class (ADMA 365).
Angelena Rossi ‘26
Major: Integrative Sciences, Biochemistry concentration
Internship: Analytical Chemist at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). I am interning in their automated section, which involves running sample analyses with computerized equipment, as well as using wet chemistry techniques.
What are some of your internship duties? I am responsible for performing two analytical tests. The first is Ortho Phosphorus, which analyzes the concentration of inorganic, dissolved phosphorus in a surface water sample. The second test is Total Phosphorus, which tests for all forms of phosphorus, including organic, inorganic, polyphosphates, and particulate phosphates. Both tests are performed using a technique called semi-automated colorimetry, as outlined in EPA Method 365.1. Both tests follow similar procedures, the only difference being that the Total Phosphorus samples must be acid-fixed so that all forms of phosphorus in the sample are converted to the measurable form for colorimetry, Ortho Phosphorus. In simple terms, the procedure works via a Flow Injection Analysis, where a small tub sucks up a portion of a water sample. The water sample is then introduced to ammonium molybdate and antimony potassium tartrate in an acid medium. The resulting complex is then reduced by ascorbic acid and becomes an intense blue color. The instrument then analyzes the colored sample by measuring its absorbance value at 880 nm. The developed color is directly proportional to the amount of orthophosphate in a sample.
I am responsible for performing both analyses, which include tasks such as making up calibration standards, acid-fixing samples, testing the pH of samples, keeping up with instrument maintenance, and making up various solutions used for the analysis. I also often help fellow analysts pour their samples and try to shadow as many procedures as I can. Everything I do at the DEP must be heavily documented, as any data needs to be defendable in a court of law.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? This internship has helped me improve my practical and analytical chemistry skills, as well as my communication skills.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? My favorite part of the internship has been learning from my co-workers. Everyone that I have worked with is very knowledgeable and willing to give me experience and advice where they can. I have enjoyed receiving various perspectives on the career path and government work in general. I also enjoy working for the public; ensuring Pennsylvania residents have safe drinking and swimming water is a fulfilling duty.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? My advice would be to make sure you are talking to your professors and attending events such as career week. It is much easier to obtain an internship when you are recommended by an accredited person. I would also recommend always applying for positions externally instead of applying directly through Handshake or LinkedIn.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I’d like to thank Dr. Pamela Higgins for encouraging me to pursue this internship. Dr. Higgins was my professor for Environmental Chemistry at Harrisburg University, and she also serves as Director for the Bureau of Laboratories at the Department of Environmental Protection.
Joshua Scott ‘26
Major: Game Design
Internship: Game Design Intern at Luna Wolf Studios
What are some of your internship duties? Collaborating on design choices and gameplay features, art design, and developing features using Unity and C# Scripting.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? Unity and C#, team communication, UI Design.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? I have found that UI Design has been something that I enjoy a lot. I have been able to use some new tools, such as DOTween, which I find useful in creating simple animations.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? You likely have more connections than you realize in your industry, so don’t be afraid to contact people.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would love to thank Dr. Greg Loring-Albright and Dr. Kelly Boudreau, who have taught me so much and helped me become a better game designer. I also want to thank Professor Christopher Chung, who I believe helped me substantially in understanding and improving through constructive criticism.
Cate Guest ‘27
Major: Environmental Science & Sustainability, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) concentration
Internship: Aquaponic / Hydroponic Intern at Vitruvian, a 3D-printing company located in Athens, Ohio
What are some of your internship duties? For my internship, I am designing and eventually building an aquaponic system for Vitruvian. The goal is to see how 3D printing can be applied to these systems in order to make them more accessible to communities. I am responsible for sizing all the parts of the aquaponics system, making a budget, and creating standard operating procedures. My internship is hybrid, meaning I complete the majority of my work remotely; however, I will be traveling to Athens when it is time to put the system together.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? Communication is the skill that has improved the most since starting my internship. Communicating with the Vitruvian team is very important, especially because it is a hybrid internship. Being transparent with what I am working on and how long it will take me to complete certain tasks is very important to ensure everything flows smoothly.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? While I am still early on in my internship, I would say my favorite part so far is designing the layout of the system. It is cool to see how all the calculations are used and come together to make a functional aquaponic system. I am also very excited to go to Ohio to learn more about 3D printing and see the aquaponic system being made.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? Sign up and get familiar with Handshake as soon as you can. It will help make the application process a lot easier.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would like to thank Dr. Rachel Fogle for not only helping me find this internship, but also for being there to provide guidance throughout my internship.
Scott Stephens ‘26
Major: Interactive Media, User Experience Design concentration
Internship: Youth and Fitness App Intern at Athlon
What are some of your internship duties? My duties as an Athlon team member revolve around building databases for perspective clients, conceptualizing ideas for gameplay, conceptualizing branding ideas, and client outreach.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? So far, some of the skills that I have improved are my ability to convey my creative ideas more effectively, my time management skills, and my overall workflow as a professional. The improvement of these three skills has made me a more productive and efficient individual in the professional world.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? My favorite part about my internship experience so far is how I’ve been able to use my passion for video games to help further the dreams of Athlon’s Founders. The most rewarding projects for me are when I get to take my gaming experience and use it to help conceptualize ideas for gameplay modes and systems that can create fun gameplay that have a positive impact on the players outside of the game. Typically, helping create experiences that boost teamwork and cooperation.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? My advice for current and future interns would be to face the challenges awaiting you head on. When taking on these kinds of big opportunities, we all have fears about things not working out, but if you can conquer your fear of the unknown, you can create the best opportunities for yourself.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would like to thank Dr. Chales Palmer and Emily Mallis. Professor Palmer is my academic advisor and by far my favorite Professor here at the University. Going into my second year here at HU, he recommended me for the JPL Scholarship that I have now and eventually lead me to working with Athlon. Upon receiving my Scholarship, Emily Mallis has been there since day one, helping facilitate visits, inquires, and overall needs that have helped fulfill my growth as a student with big dreams. It was Emily who put me in contact with Athlon in 2023 and helped me get my first interview.
Kelsey Wardell ‘26
Major: Forensics, Crime Scene Investigation concentration
Internship: Intern at Lancaster County Coroner’s Office
What are some of your internship duties? I shadow one of the Deputy Coroners for the County of Lancaster (who also happens to be an adjunct Professor at HU), meaning I am able to go with her to some scenes if required, am becoming familiar with the many different processes in death investigations, and am able to observe some autopsies and review death certificates with my supervisor.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? I’ve learned a lot about how to speak with newly grieving loved ones of decedents, broadened my knowledge of medical terminology, how to conduct myself on a scene, as well as some of the more specific things to look for and photograph that could help with the investigation.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? I’ve been extremely lucky with my coworkers who have been incredibly welcoming and helpful in showing me around, answering questions, and showing me how death investigators work as a whole. I never would’ve been able to guess just how much variety of the investigative process I’ve been able to witness and be a part of, but I truly love all of it so far! I’m even starting to consider death investigation as a career because of my time here.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? Use your resources and connections with people wisely. I wouldn’t have an internship right now if it hadn’t been for my professor advocating for the internship program to start back up at the Coroner’s Office and having someone I’ve taken a class with and know as my supervisor has been monumental to my experience.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Absolutely my Medicolegal Death Investigation Professor who I’ve been working with in my internship, as well as Forensics professors Jillian Yeakel and Carrie Wise!
Sarah Stover ‘25
Major: Applied Mathematics, Data Science concentration
Internship: Tobacco Prevention Analyst Intern at Latino Connection
What are some of your internship duties? Compiling, cleaning, and analyzing data, mapping tobacco retailer outlets, and drafting evaluations for grant applications and company initiatives.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? Data mapping, presenting, analytics, networking, ArcGIS.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? The work that I do with tobacco prevention makes a difference in the local community and it makes me feel fulfilled. The main project I have been working on is mapping tobacco retail outlets all over Delaware County to analyze trends and target areas. This can be used for targeted prevention efforts like legislation, advertisement, and quitting programs. I love being able to give back to the community by providing information for people to make a real change in determined trends.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? Use your connections! Most jobs will come from the people you know.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? Kevin Huggins, Professor of Analytics. He taught me most of what I know about analytics and referred me to my current position.
Alvin Smith ‘26
Major: Advanced Manufacturing
Internship: Control Systems Engineer Intern at Phoenix Contact
What are some of your internship duties? I have been conducting technical research, taking detailed notes, and developing CAD designs.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? This internship has allowed me to refine my professional skills by learning and applying new business terminology. Throughout this experience, I have made significant progress in attentive reading, active listening, and focused research.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship has been the opportunity to work collaboratively within a team and contribute to design solutions. A memorable moment was when I designed a sensor holder – only to realize it was oversized. Recognizing this, I returned to the drawing board to revise and scale the design accurately. This taught me the importance of iteration and precision in engineering.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? My advice to anyone considering a similar path is to pursue what genuinely interests you, stay open to exploration, and enjoy the process of learning.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I would like to thank Professor Williams for encouraging me to get involved. He often says, “If you want to get involved, just ask,” and that simple invitation made all the difference.
Rahul Gautam ‘25
Major: Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences, Software Engineering concentration
Internship: Scientific Technical Intern at Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
What are some of your internship duties? Researching and learning about the daily tools and applications, how each department works and for what, taking part in team stand ups, attending meetings, public meetings, project management, etc.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? Communication, teamwork, collaboration skills, problem-solving skills.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? So far, I have enjoyed every day of my internship work, and my aim is to get as much real-world experience as possible. I believe the most rewarding part has been the professionalism that I have learned, the people I have met, and the work ethic. The work environment has been very good.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? If I were to give advice to other students looking to apply for internship would be that, “They should not be afraid of anything or think that they do not have the skills for the particular job or internship because, being an intern you are not supposed to know everything, you be open to new experiences and should be ready to learn. Stay Positive. Be Fearless.”
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I cannot say that there is only one person that I would like to thank, it’s everybody at HU who works hard to provide the students with all the information and resources they need. At the first Career Fair I attended, I did not know anything about how to reach out to employers or how to talk to them, and the staff was helpful.
Hadiya Amini ‘26
Major: Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences
Internship: Scientific Technical Intern at Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
What are some of your internship duties? Conduct a thorough analysis of the current content management system (CMS) and identify an optimal solution for upgrading or transitioning to a more effective platform.
Which skills have you improved during your internship? During my internship, I significantly improved my technical and professional skills. I gained hands-on experience with content management systems like Umbraco and Drupal, deepened my understanding of CMS migration processes, and learned to work with tools like Draw.io and Visio for planning workflows. Additionally, I enhanced my problem-solving, communication, and time management skills through regular team meetings, project deadlines, and feedback from my mentor.
What has been your favorite part of your internship so far? It’s been exciting to take on new challenges, explore how things work behind the scenes, and see how my contributions fit into a larger goal.
Do you have any advice for other interns or students? My advice is to be open to learning and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Take every opportunity to gain experience, even if it feels challenging at first. That’s where you grow the most.
Is there someone at HU you’d like to thank? I want to thank Dr. Philip Grim for guiding me during my internship and all my professors at HU for their support.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was named one of the nation’s most innovative colleges for 2025 by US News & World Report. HU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and other health science fields. For additional information about HU’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 LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
For questions and interview requests, please contact Dan Wilhelm, Communications Manager for Harrisburg University of Science & Technology.
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