Civil Engineering Students Lay Groundwork for Their Futures

McNeese State University civil engineering students Francis Chukwuemeka, Brant Courville and Tyler Tran laid the groundwork for their future careers during their summer internships. 

Chukwuemeka, a junior from Nigeria, interned for AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm, in Michigan. 

He explained that asking questions in class helped him learn quickly during his internship.  

“I gained valuable insight about my reason for pursuing civil engineering,” he said. 

Courville, a junior from Lake Charles, interned for LyondellBasell Industries at its venture site in Westlake.  

“The best part of the internship was working with and learning from the engineers and being at the site daily,” he explained. 

Courville learned how chemical plants function and used problem-solving skills to tackle issues. 

“Once you enter the real world, what matters most is the quality and progress of the project at hand,” he said. “People excel in different areas, so reaching out for help is often an efficient and effective approach.”  

Tran, a junior from Lake Charles, interned at the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. He chose to major in civil engineering after landing a civil engineering internship and enjoying civil work. 

During his latest internship, he gained valuable work experience that will help him when job searching in the future.  

Courville encourages McNeese students to apply for internships. 

“Attend career fairs, actively seek out opportunities and make your resume stand out,” Courville said. “Employers often hire candidates with internship experience. 

“Not only has my internship helped me grow as an engineer, but it has also provided me experience to advance my career path.”