Category: Applied Learning

Karaline Scott, a Wichita State electrical engineering sophomore, is currently interning for Professional Engineering Consultants. As a power and process division intern her tasks are focused on AutoCAD software, reading diagrams and schematics used in real world electrical systems.  

Scott has also learned how to read construction documents and how to handle client relationships on the job. Her experience also includes learning standard details and company standards. All creating her engineering foundation.   

“These are all skills that would be necessary to use in professional fields of engineering, no matter the specific concentration,” Scott said.   

As a freshman, Scott had trouble envisioning herself as an electrical engineer. These concerns initiated her internship search at the Shocker Career Accelerator’s Engineering & I.T. Career Fair. Her resume was workshopped by the College of Engineering’s Wallace Scholars beforehand, with her upper-level math and physics classes highlighted. 

Gabey Norris grew up watching her father work as a K-9 unit officer for Saline County in central Kansas. That upbringing sparked her interest in law enforcement and led her to Wichita State. 

“I love listening to my father tell his stories from work,” she said. “I have always been intrigued by investigations and all kinds of murder mystery shows. My biggest motivation is being able to help the public and bring closure to families who have lost a loved one or had one injured.” 

James Wright’s work in the Environmental Test Lab for the National Institute for Aviation Research includes measuring salt spray fallout, welding and CAD modeling. 

Through each day of his paid internship, one benefit stands out – problem solving. Wright, a Wichita State University senior majoring in aerospace engineering, is from Joplin, Missouri, and works as a mechanical student assistant at NIAR. 

“It’s a lot of problem solving,” he said. “I think that it’s vital to learn how to operate in this sort of environment while you’re at school, so that once you make it into the workforce you’re comfortable learning things the hard way and clawing your way up when you’re in a new and unfamiliar situation.” 

Carter Duff does not waste time. After transferring from Butler Community College, where he’d already earned 60 credits, Carter hit the ground running at Wichita State and secured a cybersecurity credential and hands-on experience with federal law enforcement.

This past spring, Carter interned with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), where his daily duties ranged from organizing case files to going on ride-alongs with special agents.

“Every day varied based on the tasks or objectives of the day,” Carter said. “A typical day could be anything from sorting case files to ride-alongs with special agents.”

For Wichitan Janett Lerma-Reyes, a paid summer internship at Shuttlewagon has sharpened her technical skills and confirmed that she belongs in the world of manufacturing. 

The mechanical engineering sophomore at Wichita State University is spending 10 weeks as an operations intern at Shuttlewagon, a company based in Kansas City that designs and builds railcar movers, which are powerful vehicles used to move train cars in railyards, ports and industrial facilities.  

Getting paid during her internship has allowed her the ability to feel financially stable and maintain a work-life balance. 

Electrical engineering major Karaline Scott is getting an early start on her career path. The Wichita State sophomore is spending her summer at Professional Engineering Consultants, where she’s getting paid to work alongside industry professionals and experiencing how engineering concepts translate to real-world impact.

Scott, a sophomore electrical engineering major at Wichita State University, is part of PEC’s Power Engineering Team. Her days are filled with hands-on learning — from assisting in the design and revision of electrical wiring systems to gaining experience in AutoCAD and reading complex schematics.

A senior in the applied engineering program with an emphasis in management, Shocker Haylee Thurman is scheduled to graduate this fall. Her academic journey, however, is only part of the story. Since the start of her college career, she has been steadily shaping a dynamic and impactful role in the world of research and development.

Haylee currently serves as the automation technical lead at the NIAR Automation Research Center, where she oversees a team of 12 students and staff across five ongoing projects. These projects cover a range of industries, including agriculture and aerospace. Her work encompasses industrial and digital design, and her daily responsibilities blend technical design with leadership and project management.

Tutor (316) is an organization dedicated to enhancing children’s literacy and mathematical development in partnership with local elementary schools. Tutor (316) proudly offers paid tutoring positions to Wichita State students through Federal Work-Study funding.

Read more about five college students who serve as content creators for the Tutor (316) program to learn how this role is shaping their future careers — one worksheet at a time.

Lauren’s path from Wichita State to NASA shows what’s possible when education meets opportunity. As an engineering student, she was handed meaningful work on day one, contributing to projects for the International Space Station and Artemis missions.