2024 National Intern Day: Why Intern at AEI?
Happy 2024 National Intern Day!
Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in July, National Intern Day is an opportunity to share our appreciation for our hardworking interns whose dedication and contributions advance our firm.
This year, we asked AEI interns nationwide why they chose to intern at AEI and what excites them the most about their experience.
Why did you decide to intern at AEI?
Our interns described the AEI internship program as an impactful opportunity for professional growth, where they engage with complex, large-scale projects that promote sustainability, advance research, and support communities.
"Engineering stands as a critical component of the career path that I envisioned. I love engineering because of the freedom it offers me to solve problems. And AEI stands as one of the best design consultation firms in the AEC industry. Thus, I determined it an incredible company to hone my love of engineering while also gaining practical skills often overlooked by academic institutions such as electrical drawing comprehension, clientele relationship management, and so much more."
- Liam Waite (He/Him), AEI Houston, Electrical Engineering Intern
AEI Houston interns Liam Waite and Sadia Ashraf. Sadia is passionate about math, and Liam enjoys how engineering offers the freedom to solve problems.
AEI San Francisco interns Magdalena Ohstrom and Carlos Arevalo. Magdalena is excited to work on impactful projects, and Carlos is interested in efficient energy consumption.
“I met people from the mechanical team at a career fair, and they were so easy to talk to and excited to share about the projects they had worked on.”
- Magdalena Ohstrom (She/Her), AEI San Francisco, Mechanical Engineering Intern
“I first found out about AEI when I stumbled upon an article about the work they did on the Microsoft Thermal Center. I dove deeper into the projects that they did, and I was captivated by the commitment to sustainability and the quality of the deliverables that were shown by AEI. This made me want to apply and be a part of something awesome.”
- Ken Pham (He/Him), AEI Seattle, Electrical Engineering Intern
AEI Seattle interns Ken Pham and Hugo Bodik.
AEI Los Angeles intern Joseph Balderama has been interested in MEP engineering since a young age. Joseph looks forward to applying his knowledge, learning from AEI's mentors, and acquiring new skills.
“I had the pleasure of speaking to Jim Sokol, one of our principals, through a mutual friend. He told me about the problem-solving at AEI, and the values of excellence and sustainability that guide the projects, and I was immediately intrigued.”
- Hugo Bodik (He/Him), AEI Seattle, Mechanical Engineering Intern
"I have always had a passion for working on projects that make a difference and matter to the world, and I saw working here as that opportunity to help other people through impactful projects. I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects here, ranging from children's hospitals to higher education buildings and it is cool to be able to say that I will be in part responsible for the good that these buildings will bring."
- Nathan Gentz (He/Him), AEI Madison, Electrical Engineering Intern
AEI Madison interns Kayla Willems, Nathan Gentz, Harry Le Sage, and Ellery Cure at a lighting vendor presentation.
"The standards and morals of what AEI stands for align closely with my personal goals in life. I want to make a positive impact on people's lives and society through my skills as a future designer. AEI has made it possible for me to be in that role.”
- Toulee Xiong (He/Him), AEI Madison, Mechanical Design Intern
What are you most looking forward to about interning at AEI?
AEI interns shared their excitement for building meaningful connections with their mentors while learning about the AEC industry.
AEI Madison 2024 intern class.
“I am most looking forward to growing my network and making connections with other engineers and designers within the office along with clients and owners. I think it is important to create good connections with those you work with, and AEI makes that possible.”
- Bella De La Cruz (She/Her), AEI Madison, Mechanical Engineering Intern
"I am most looking forward to gaining experience in process engineering and process design and meeting all my coworkers."
- Allison Kinsey (She/Her), AEI Madison, Process Engineering Intern
AEI Denver welcomes new team members and 2024 interns Ryleigh Taylor and Kelsey Tran.
AEI Austin intern Raymond Cheng became interested in engineering when he was younger and is pursuing a Master's degree in aerospace engineering.
“After interning last summer, I was most looking forward to getting into different work this summer--to be able to branch out from mostly new building work to being able to see the solutions available for older buildings, and see how we can get clients up to code and meet the standards they expect.”
- Sean Mahoney (He/Him), AEI Boston, Electrical Engineering Intern
“I'm looking forward to continuously learning under my mentors. The AEI Chicago team has been incredibly helpful and supportive. I got the opportunity to experience amazing project work, site visits, and overall receive valuable advice and interactions from really knowledgeable individuals.”
- Ali Al-Saeedy (He/Him), AEI Chicago, Electrical Engineering Intern
AEI Metro DC interns Mark White, Julia Peppe, Kaveh Farahifar, Evan Wahler, and Joaquin Mojica.
Thank you, AEI interns!
We extend a special thank you to our 2024 interns who shared their experiences with us. We appreciate your curiosity and eagerness to learn and look forward to celebrating your future achievements!