McNeese Students Intern at Southland Environmental 

Laiken Demary and Adelyn Hoffpauir, students at McNeese State University, both had the opportunity to intern at Southland Environmental over the summer in Lake Charles.  

Demary, a senior from Sulphur, has received a bachelor’s degree in general agriculture and is now earning a second bachelor’s degree in natural resource conservation and management. Hoffpauir is a junior from Bell City and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in natural resource conservation and management as well.  

Both students have deemed communication one of the most important takeaways from their internships, whether this skill was used for safety purposes among coworkers or to speak and write professionally with others.  

“My participation in this internship has provided me with valuable experience both in the office and the field. It has allowed me to become more knowledgeable in a wide variety of workplaces from open cattle pastures to industrial plant facilities,” expressed Demary.  

She says she uses what she’s learned every day and has secured a permanent position with the company.  

Hoffpauir is also thankful for the ability to conduct both office and field work.  

“Having already been exposed to plant identification and several wildlife courses has allowed me to take what I have learned in the classroom and apply it to real world situations, while also deepening my understanding of these topics,” she explained.  

Staying in the same field, Hoffpauir plans to become an environmental scientist and specialize in Louisiana’s wetlands after completing her degree.  

Two important lessons they were able to learn during the internships were to be able to adapt when things don’t go according to plan and to network and maintain relationships with clients, which is vital. 

“I chose McNeese because of its small-town feel, which reminds me of the rural community I grew up in,” Hoffpauir expressed. “Having a close-knit community was important to me when choosing a college.” 

Demary chose to attend McNeese because of its hands-on experience opportunities. “The Harold and Pearl Dripps School of Agricultural Sciences has so much to offer to further expand on the knowledge I obtained in high school,” she said. “This knowledge has helped me throughout the years both in the workplace and at home with my rural lifestyle.” 

Both students agreed that an internship is a significant opportunity that will help their peers in pursuing a job after graduation.