Real-World Readiness: Calvin Students Gain Meaningful Experience Through Summer Internships

At 麻豆区, the connection between classroom learning and real-world application isn鈥檛 an afterthought鈥攊t鈥檚 a priority. This summer, that priority has come to life in a tangible way as students across disciplines engage in internships that are not only building professional competencies but also shaping future pathways.
From aerospace engineering to child advocacy, financial planning to ecosystem restoration, Calvin students are stepping into roles that demand curiosity, responsibility, and collaboration. What they鈥檙e gaining in return is more than experience鈥攊t鈥檚 clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of calling.
Learning to Lead in Complex Environments
For Aubrey Altenbrent 鈥26, a social work major and criminology minor on the pre-law track, interning with the Kansas Department for Children and Families has been an immersive and eye-opening experience. She spends her days observing court cases, participating in home visits, and attending team decision-making meetings that determine the best course of action for vulnerable children.
鈥淎t Calvin, we鈥檙e taught to approach people with a strengths-based mindset鈥攖o see what鈥檚 going right before focusing on what鈥檚 going wrong,鈥 Altenbrent explains. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I carry into every meeting, and it鈥檚 shaped how I want to approach law in the future.鈥
Building Client Trust and Professional Rapport
Across the finance world, Peter Dekruyter 鈥26, a financial planning major, is interning at Grand Wealth Management. His work includes developing meeting agendas, sitting in on client conversations, and learning how to deliver plans that are tailored, not templated.
鈥淣o two clients are the same,鈥 Dekruyter reflects. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes this field so rewarding. You have to think critically and connect personally.鈥 He credits his role as a Nexus coach on campus with giving him a foundation in professionalism and people skills鈥攖ools that have proven essential this summer.
Bridging Engineering Theory and Practice
Meanwhile, two engineering students are applying their technical education in high-stakes, hands-on settings. At LG Energy Solution, Nat Taylor鈥檚 鈥26 work on the quality engineering team involves troubleshooting battery production issues, analyzing manufacturing data, and using advanced scanning tools to evaluate internal structures.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 surprised me most is how much collaboration is required,鈥 Taylor says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about having the right equation鈥攊t鈥檚 about asking the right questions, especially when you鈥檙e working with cross-disciplinary teams.鈥
Jessica Eenigenburg 鈥27, working at GE Aerospace, has had the opportunity to redesign airplane parts, conduct precision error studies, and report findings directly to senior leadership. 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to look at an aircraft component and not realize how many people, machines, and steps go into making it,鈥 she says. 鈥淭his internship has given me an entirely new appreciation for how production works.鈥
Investing in Care and Conservation
For students in healthcare and environmental stewardship, internships have been equally impactful. Sabrina Lopez 鈥27, a kinesiology major on the pre-physical therapy track, is spending her summer at PursuitPT, a clinic known for its individualized patient care. 鈥淏eing trusted to help facilitate recovery and learn alongside real therapists has affirmed that I鈥檓 on the right path,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about reading the science and reading the person in front of you.鈥
Charchit Adhikari 鈥27, a civil and environmental engineering student, has divided his time between the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens and Plaster Creek Stewards. From managing greenhouses to removing invasive species, he鈥檚 seeing textbook knowledge come to life. 鈥淯nderstanding how native plants affect water retention, pollination, and biodiversity is one thing,鈥 he says. 鈥淪eeing it happen in real time is another. It鈥檚 changed how I think about the built and natural environment.鈥
Purpose in Every Pathway
While each internship is unique, a common thread runs through all six: intentionality. These students are not only gaining exposure to their prospective fields鈥攖hey are learning how to lead, adapt, and ask better questions. They are practicing humility and persistence. And they are discovering that readiness for life after college doesn鈥檛 come from having all the answers, but from being equipped to find them.
As Taylor puts it, 鈥淐ompanies aren鈥檛 looking for perfection. They鈥檙e looking for potential.鈥
At Calvin, internships are more than r茅sum茅-builders. They are a reflection of the university鈥檚 commitment to preparing students not only for successful careers, but for lives of service, leadership, and meaning.