Robert D. Seivert - 2017 Premier Scholar
First of all, I would like to thank AIST and Nucor for all of the support they have given to me throughout my three internships. This past summer, I was a metallurgy intern in the meltshop at Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa Inc. and was given the opportunity to work on several projects that have provided me with valuable hands-on experience. The project work 
I have been a part of has cemented my desire to work in the steel industry upon my graduation in May 2018. I have spent the majority of my summer investigating the effectiveness of the current practices, as well as trying to improve the standard clean steel practices at the ladle metallurgy furnace (LMF). This allowed me to work closely with the teammates at the LMF and develop a strong working knowledge of LMF operations. I was also given the opportunity to frequently use the on-site scanning electron microscope in order to collect data on my projects. It has been very exciting to learn new skills as well as to learn more about metallurgy every day while safely working with such a cooperative and friendly team. AIST’s tremendous generosity has allowed me to focus on my schoolwork and remove much of the financial burden college can put on students. Thanks to the opportunities presented to me by both AIST and Nucor, I have found an industry that I am truly passionate about. I am excited to see what the steel industry has in store for me in the future.