At ����app, the connection between classroom learning and real-world application isn’t an afterthought—it’s a priority. This summer, that priority has come to life in a tangible way as students across disciplines engage in internships that are not only building professional competencies but also shaping future pathways.

From aerospace engineering to child advocacy, financial planning to ecosystem restoration, ����app students are stepping into roles that demand curiosity, responsibility, and collaboration. What they’re gaining in return is more than experience—it’s clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of calling.

Learning to Lead in Complex Environments

For Aubrey Altenbrent ‘26, a social work major and criminology minor on the pre-law track, interning with the Kansas Department for Children and Families has been an immersive and eye-opening experience. She spends her days observing court cases, participating in home visits, and attending team decision-making meetings that determine the best course of action for vulnerable children.

“At ����app, we’re taught to approach people with a strengths-based mindset—to see what’s going right before focusing on what’s going wrong,” Altenbrent explains. “That’s something I carry into every meeting, and it’s shaped how I want to approach law in the future.”

Building Client Trust and Professional Rapport

Across the finance world, Peter Dekruyter ‘26, a financial planning major, is interning at Grand Wealth Management. His work includes developing meeting agendas, sitting in on client conversations, and learning how to deliver plans that are tailored, not templated.

“No two clients are the same,” Dekruyter reflects. “That’s what makes this field so rewarding. You have to think critically and connect personally.” He credits his role as a Nexus coach on campus with giving him a foundation in professionalism and people skills—tools that have proven essential this summer.

Bridging Engineering Theory and Practice

Meanwhile, two engineering students are applying their technical education in high-stakes, hands-on settings. At LG Energy Solution, Nat Taylor’s ‘26 work on the quality engineering team involves troubleshooting battery production issues, analyzing manufacturing data, and using advanced scanning tools to evaluate internal structures.

“What’s surprised me most is how much collaboration is required,” Taylor says. “It’s not just about having the right equation—it’s about asking the right questions, especially when you’re working with cross-disciplinary teams.”

Jessica Eenigenburg ‘27, working at GE Aerospace, has had the opportunity to redesign airplane parts, conduct precision error studies, and report findings directly to senior leadership. “It’s easy to look at an aircraft component and not realize how many people, machines, and steps go into making it,” she says. “This internship has given me an entirely new appreciation for how production works.”

Investing in Care and Conservation

For students in healthcare and environmental stewardship, internships have been equally impactful. Sabrina Lopez ‘27, a kinesiology major on the pre-physical therapy track, is spending her summer at PursuitPT, a clinic known for its individualized patient care. “Being trusted to help facilitate recovery and learn alongside real therapists has affirmed that I’m on the right path,” she says. “It’s about reading the science and reading the person in front of you.”

Charchit Adhikari ‘27, a civil and environmental engineering student, has divided his time between the ����app Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens and Plaster Creek Stewards. From managing greenhouses to removing invasive species, he’s seeing textbook knowledge come to life. “Understanding how native plants affect water retention, pollination, and biodiversity is one thing,” he says. “Seeing it happen in real time is another. It’s changed how I think about the built and natural environment.”

Purpose in Every Pathway

While each internship is unique, a common thread runs through all six: intentionality. These students are not only gaining exposure to their prospective fields—they are learning how to lead, adapt, and ask better questions. They are practicing humility and persistence. And they are discovering that readiness for life after college doesn’t come from having all the answers, but from being equipped to find them.

As Taylor puts it, “Companies aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for potential.”

At ����app, internships are more than résumé-builders. They are a reflection of the university’s commitment to preparing students not only for successful careers, but for lives of service, leadership, and meaning.