2024 Steel Intern Scholarships
Jackson S. Hollenbaugh
This summer I had the privilege of returning to Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) – Structural and Rail Division, Columbia City, Ind., USA. This internship has built on my experience from last summer and has exposed me to aspects of research and development beyond what I experienced in school and during my previous internship. Through my projects with R&D, I was able to gain experience with sample collection, prep and analysis on an industry scale.
Behind all my projects was SDI’s commitment to safety. Safety is SDI’s top priority; safety was reinforced by every employee to ensure the safest working environment possible. As I returned to SDI this summer, this drive for safety constantly resonated in my mind and played a major role in my returning to the company.
This summer built upon my experiences from the previous internship and bolstered my capabilities within the company. From performing internal research of Charpy samples, to investigating rare abnormal test results, I was on the front lines of SDI’s commitment to producing a quality product. This summer provided ample opportunity to learn more about the industry and apply my knowledge from my classwork. Industry experience is unparalleled in its application of your coursework, and I am beyond grateful for the experience that SDI and AIST has provided for me.
My two summers at SDI have laid the foundation for a lifelong and rewarding career in the steel industry after graduation. I have great appreciation for SDI, my supervisors and my coworkers. I am truly grateful to AIST and its mission to attract more students into the steel industry. I know a successful future is even closer thanks to the benefits of the AIST Steel Intern Scholarship and my internship experience.