January Externship Program

Sponsor Quotes

Back to welcome for basic info.

This is what some of our 2007 Externship sponsors said about their experiences:

• "This program is amazing. I wish this would have been available to me as an undergrad at Virginia Tech. I think that involving alumni in student's futures is a brilliant idea."
  - Lisa Johnson of Homewood Suites Charlotte Airport
• "The externship program provides mutual value. It provides us another way to give back to VT by providing our time in exposing future graduates to the "real world" application of their degree — benefiting the student. It also gives us the chance to begin a relationship with a student as a potential summer hire or permanent hire upon graduation — a benefit to us as an organization."
  - Mark Meno of NAVAIR
• "The NSROC Co-op and Intern programs have been operating successfully for 7 years. This was our first experience participating with the VT Externship Program and I questioned how much the program could benefit students because of its very short timeframe. I was amazed at how much the students learned, not only about various engineering discplines and applications, but about the need for schedules, cost-effective solutions, and Team Work! One student said she was able to determine which engineering displine she wanted to focus on in the future — if we assisted in helping her make that determination, the preparation and planning for this effort was well worthwhile."
  - Jan Jackson of Northrop Grumman/NSROC
• "Our externship experience was great. Our student did such a great job that we offered him an internship for the following semester. This is a program we will continue to participate in."
  - Nanci Hardwick, CFO of AVID LLC
• "When I met the students I could see they were planning graduation but lost as to what was going to happen after the ceremony. By the end of the externship I had both students looking for jobs and working on their resumes so that they wouldn't have to spend a year or two looking for their future. I am still in touch with the students and they are working hard on the suggestions I gave them."
  - Kristina Kimerle of Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary
• "The Virginia Tech Career Services externship program is top-notch. It provides current students with the currency (experience) that employers are seeking in the war for talent. I have served as a sponsor for the past four years and have hosted seven students who have gone on to achieve success in the world of work. Each student has personally thanked me for creating a work environment for them to succeed."
  - Eric Melniczek of Radford University Experiential Learning & Career Development
• "We have found the extern program to be an excellent experience for both ourselves and the students. This last year we were able to have our externs help in the design of two new ships. The students worked on real tasks, attended meetings, and met with engineers and managers across all of the technical disciplines. We have been so impressed with the quality of students who have participated that we consider them first when awarding paid summer internships."
  - Jeremy West of AMSEC
• "Invent the Future: For a glimpse of the future, participate in Tech's Externship program. You will see the future in the eyes and enthusiasm of the students and it is bright."
  - Allen D McCorkle DDS PC
• "An externship is a great opportunity for both the student and the company to learn more about each other. This helps the student make more informed decisions about their future and the company knows how to better to support them. In addition it gives a leader an opportunity to positively impact a young person's life at an important time in their lives."
  - Andy Bates of American Infrastructure
• "The Externship program was ideal in that it allowed the students to see a specific career in the mechanical engineering field and how their educations apply to real world engineering principles and practices. Being a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Virginia, I highly recommend all future graduates participate in the Externship program or one similar to it to see specific career paths and opportunities available in the mechanical engineering field."
  - Scott Parr of KTA Group, Inc.