Westlake Consultants is committed to nurturing the next generation of engineers, surveyors, and industry professionals through our annual summer internship program. Each year, we welcome a group of talented students who bring fresh perspectives and energy to our firm.

This summer, Westlake was thrilled to offer four college internships in our Engineering, 3D/Industrial Measurement, and Administration departments. Although their internships were only 3 months long, Carson Coulter (George Fox University), Valentina Castellanos (Portland State University), Morgan Perry (Oregon State University), and Melissa Pschigoda (Portland Community College) made a significant impact on our work. We asked each of them to share their experiences, and here are a few highlights:

Carson Coulter shared that “the best part of the internship was being allowed to get in on actual projects.” He particularly enjoyed being trained in AutoCAD Civil 3D and felt proficient with it by the end of the summer. Carson worked with our Civil Engineering team all summer.

Valentina Castellanos was struck by the teamwork aspect of the civil engineering department. “I loved how much social interaction there was. I was invited to participate in so many different work tasks, but also asked to join in the ping pong games, ice cream social, and staff BBQ’s. This really helped me develop my soft skills. At Westlake, we were encouraged to take time out of our day and check in on each other.”

Morgan Perry said “I really liked working with all the different departments and tackling a variety of assignments. Doing this helped me get a better understanding of what I enjoy, and what I don’t.” Morgan worked with our Administration team to learn about project accounting, and also helped plan staff social events.

Melissa Pschigoda shared “Learning in a classroom and learning in the workplace are two different beasts altogether. I’ve been able to use this experience to send practical knowledge back to my professors, suggesting areas for further training detail. Paying it forward, as it were, to the next batch of students.”

We are very happy to share that Melissa accepted a full-time position as a Survey Technician in our 3D/Industrial Measurement department following completion of their internship.

We take pride in offering a comprehensive internship program designed to provide more than technical skills. Interns at Westlake have opportunities to hone their communication and presentation skills, learn time management techniques, and practice critical thinking. Our goal is that they come away from the intern experience with a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the AEC industry as a whole.

Our 2024 interns have left a positive impression on all of us at Westlake. We look forward to seeing the impact these students will have on our industry and our world.