Experience Matters - Grand Valley State University

Knowledge is power and a door to opportunity

Sarah Lovely
Major: Computer Engineering 1- Add new data columns into the financial aid maintenance table 2- Allow users to sort data from different columns. 3- Increase accessibility for each project completed in the past using google plugin (WAVE). 4- Designed and implemented a new software (Blackboard test file generator) for all faculty at GVSU to use. 5- Analyse all of the projects and change any queries that pull a person's name to use a different function.

Co-op Third Rotation

Joshua
Major: Computer Engineering I completed the task of configuring and deploying all new PCs in the company that were replacing old PCs that were going to run out on their warranty as well as wiping all information off of the old hard drives before sending them back to Dell.

CE Co-op 3 L3 Technologies

Mike
Major: Computer Engineering This co-op tasks included performing maintenance on old software and fixing minor bugs that arose. I also created tests to help fix problems like I2C communication problems. Other day to day activities involved reviewing schematics and wiring diagrams. There were a couple big projects which culminated in building and designing a calibration station. This included software and hardware elements.

ODL Co-Op 3

Jonathan
Major: Mechanical Engineering The semester I was assigned primarily to the following projects 1. Add on Blind Implementation-In previous rotations I designed several improvements to our Add on Blind. Since I was at school, the capital has been approved to implement these changes. This semester I have been in charge of implementing the project. This has involved leading a small team, working with our CAD designer to update drawings, developing a project timeline, and completing necessary tolerance stacks for new components. 2. Glass Supermarket Layout-As part of an exposure to Manufacturing engineering, I have worked with several manufacturing engineers to optimize and rearrange the layout which we store our glass in on the floor. 3. IGCC Certification Drawings-Currently, we produce units for IGCC certification from hand written notes on pieces of scratch paper. In the interest of making this process repeatable and simple, I have worked to produce a legitimate set of drawings for three different insulated glass units so that the engineer in charge of certification can simply order the units for certification, rather than chase down all the right people and parts on the floor. 4. Operating Efforts improvements-In the interest of lowering the operating efforts of one of our blind products I have focused on making design improvements and testing to lower the operating efforts of the blind.

HVAC / building mechanical systems

David
Major: Mechanical Engineering Assisted in design work of building mechanical and HVAC systems. Commissioned new buildings to ensure systems are functioning to specifications. Commissioned existing buildings to find energy conservation measures and to diagnose ongoing issues.

Mechanical Engineering Final Co-op

Jordyn
Major: Mechanical Engineering During my co-op experience, I was able to work with several departments in order to complete order entry tasks, order-completion drawings, and drawing modifications. I also had the opportunity to travel to an Amazon project in California for 1 week to assist in problem solving and preparation to turn a project over to the customer. All of these tasks helped further my knowledge of products within the company as well as how to use different programs in order to properly complete my job.

Third Co-op Rotation

Matthew
Major: Electrical Engineering This is my third and final co-op rotation at JR and it has definitely been the best one so far. I've had the opportunity to be very hands with the machines I've worked on. I've been able to design the electrical systems, program the machines, work with robots, design the operator touch screen layouts, troubleshoot wiring and pneumatic issues, attend meetings with the customers, and travel to the customers location for machine installation.

3rd co-op rotation

Nathan
Major: Electrical Engineering My role included various PLC and HMI programming tasks, the control of varying frequency drives, servo motors, conveyors, and various other pneumatic/electrical jobs.

Co-Op at L3

Mowgli
Major: Mechanical Engineering I worked as a mechanical engineer on the modernization of transmission components. I assigned tasks included component testing, FEA analysis and prototype design.

GRCC Athletics Intern

Amanda
Major: Sport Management Helped develop a student-athlete success program. Helped with study tables, progress reports, scheduling classes for student-athletes, helped with compliance paperwork, game day operations, and marketing. I also wrote up recruiting letters that we can send to prospective student-athletes, designed end of the season surveys for our student-athletes, setup exit meetings with student-athletes who have completed their two years in athletics at GRCC. Organized volunteer opportunities for student-athletes, made travel itineraries for the volleyball team, as well as order food for athletes before each home game.

AACC Intern

Montana
Major: Communications Assisted with planning and executing AACC events, enter information and ran reports in member management database- ChamberMaster, provided support to social media and website content, wrote and edited press releases, responded to email and website inquiries.

Program Launch / Ergonomic Upgrading

Alex
Major: Mechanical Engineering Improvements were made to the rivet fixture station to check for proper adhesive and rivet application before bonding. Fixture functionality, sensing ability, operator interaction, and ergonomics was improved. I helped create detailed work instructions, fixture part presence sensing, tool carts, and helped ensure deadlines were being met for a new product line.

Manufacturing Engineering Co-op

Quang
Major: Mechanical Engineering Design tool, improve productivity of production line, research.

Co-op 3 at Autocam

Joe
Major: Mechanical Engineering I was responsible for communicating with suppliers to order process flow equipment, cutting tools, and a vision system. I gained more familiarity with Autocam's job database and production tracking system. I assisted with the data collection for the PPAP for several prototype parts. I collected data to prove out new wash processes. I provided support for inspectors and generated guidelines for part rejection. I worked with a vision system programmer to correlate a 2D surface profilometer with a quicker 3D interferometer. I led several projects to reduce defect quantities. Though a few projects I learned more about face and outer diameter grinding. One of my projects related to heat treatment and centerless grinding, where I learned technical details about surface finish and roundness. I have also been involved with implementing a vision system for dimensional inspection to improve quality control.

GVSU Film/Video Alumni Chapter Intern

Danielle
Major: Film & Video The largest project I had during the internship was creating a video for the Dirk Koning Scholarship. The Dirk Koning Scholarship assists students in the film/video program who are creating works that contribute to the improvement of society. I worked in every process of pre-production, production, and post-production, along with the guidance of the alumni board. My other tasks consisted of running the alumni social media pages, creating alumni profiles for the GV website, and promoting events. Each of the board members took me under their wing and helped me develop new skills in their fields of focus.

Trane

Lucas
Major: Electrical Engineering Auto Cad Testing Ordering Parts

Sport Specialist Intern

Rachel
Major: Sport Management Concussion form data collection and computer input, staff meetings, program migration, inventory management, volunteer organization, forming league teams, budget evaluation and forecasting.

Detroit Public Television Internship

Brandon
Major: Film & Video Kept time as Assistant Director for both weekly shows, MiWeek and American Black Journal, as well as Live Pledge Events and Roadshows (a YouTube link for the American Black Journal Detroit 67 Roadshow, an hour long special which I kept time for, can be found below). Attended DPTV events for set-up, tear down, and helping run the events themselves (such as Kids Club Live in Royal Oak where I was in charge of the costumed characters that would come out to greet kids).

Jena Weir Sales Internship

Aubrey
Major: Communications As an intern, I made cold calls daily trying to market for Jena Weir Sales and increase sales to several different stores. I also created "Where to buy Lists" to target stores who could potentially want to sell Jena's products in their own stores.

Mechanical Engineering Co-op

Clayton
Major: Mechanical Engineering I have been on my third and final co-op rotation at SAF-Holland since mid-August and through this rotation I worked primarily on new suspension beams to replace our existing beams currently in production. The primary goals of the project are to create beams that make manufacturing processing much easier, create a lighter full suspension assembly and improve suspension performance. Throughout the co-op I have worked closely with the senior project engineer of my department. Together we have worked on the design features and optimization of the beam.

3rd co-op Rotation

Gabrielle
Major: Mechanical Engineering In my final rotation, I was assigned to the design group. I was tasked with helping in the design of stations that were to be part of larger of assemblies in which I worked a lot with CAD software. I was also tasked with doing design checks of part prints, detailing components, releasing prints for build, and completing redlines.

Project Engineering -Plastic Injection Molding

Dylan
Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering My third coop was focused on project engineering. This job was exciting and I learned a lot of valuable skills related to polymer processing and program management. I worked with other engineers on two main projects and was given a lot of independence with tasks. Each day was different and dependent on the task at hand and customer demands.

Lobbying D.C.

Zachary
Major: Political Science Everyday was different during my experience. I worked on locating and analyzing national legislation, researching federal funding programs, such as FEMA, contacting federal agencies for information regarding regulation reform, and lobbying congress. Overall, I worked on comprehensive research projects that would persuade or impact federal legislation.

The Washington Center Experience

Hannah
Major: Political Science I was tasked to locate balanced on clients accounts, look up the expense report for each, request bills and medical records, request lien breakdowns from insurance companies, check on status of personal injury protection, draft documents for the requests I made, and at times speak with clients. I was also given the opportunity to sit in on different court dates, help prepare for trial, sit in on new client meetings, and sit in on pre trial or settlement meetings.

State House Campaigning

Andrew
Major: Political Science While knocking doors was the vast majority of our responsibility, we also worked on earning endorsements, sending out press releases, creating and designing literature, submitting financial reports, event planning, and volunteer organization.