Search - Experience Matters - Grand Valley State University

Audio/IT Test

Major: Electrical Engineering My co-op focused in two areas: Test Bench Creation & Assisting in Vehicle Tests. Most of my time was spent designing and creating a test bench area that is meant to seamlessly simulate a vehicle's Audio/Infotainment functions (Meter, Head unit, navigation, USB Port, Radio, SXM, etc). By using the test bench, the engineers can perform all software tests without getting into an entire car. Thus saving time and the number of reserved vehicles for the department. I collaborated with other engineers to design & build a mechanical frame to place all of the equipment. Then, documented/constructed all of the electrical wiring & harnesses that connects each device together to form a complete system. On another note, each week I acted as an assistant for my co-workers in performing various vehicle tests such as GPS Synchronization, USB Performance, etc.

Interning at Trans-Matic Co-op II

Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering My second rotation at Trans-Matic involved: updating 3D cad prints using the Pro-E software, creating drawer layouts for organization of parts, and analyzing functionality of the company for continuous improvement. Rotations at Trans-Matic have you explore different aspects of the company. Thus no rotation is exactly the same experience.

Congressman Huizenga's District Office

Major: Political Science Being a District Intern came with a number of different tasks/projects. Including; compiling news articles for the congressman and his staff, speaking to constituents both over the phone and in person, aiding the staff in writing congratulatory letters and/or letters of recognition, making sure constituents were directed to the proper case worker to handle their issue, sorting and assigning mail, along with other office duties.

Software Development and Embedded Systems

Major: Computer Engineering I got to work on developing GUI applications in Python for integration testing and configuring embedded systems, as well as developing embedded software in C.

Campaign experience

Major: Political Science I worked primarily in fundraising and field operations. I had the duty of gathering donor research and applying that information to a database in which we use to secure funds for our operations. I also was in charge of creating field events for our candidate to speak at.

Co-Op Rotation 2

Major: Mechanical Engineering As a Manufacturing and Quality Engineer Co-Op Student, I studied and developed ways to reduce scrap, participated in design projects, capability studies, and other small projects.

Second Co-op rotation

Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering During this second co-op rotation at Yanfeng, I worked in the advanced manufacturing engineering department. Here I helped in launching a new product. In doing this, I participated in many conference calls, meetings with suppliers, and troubleshooting at the factory were the part is made.

JR Automation Co-op 2

Major: Electrical Engineering I spent time this semester doing a few different things. The first thing I worked on was making red-line changes to electrical and pneumatic prints. Next, I set up a vision system to be able to take a picture of a completed part and determine whether is was good or bad. After that, I was placed on a project team and got the opportunity to assist in the PLC programming and creation of HMI screens for a new project. I also spent a little bit of time teaching points to robots.

Mechanical Design Semester

Major: Mechanical Engineering Most of the tasks I was responsible for during my co-op experience included supporting engineering projects in form of detailing machine designs and checking machine prints for consistency. This was my first co-op rotation in the Mechanical Design department. For this reason I also spent a lot of time learning the CAD software Creo through tutorials and light design work.

West Michigan Whitecaps

Major: Sport Management During my time with the West Michigan Whitecaps I have tried participate in as many things as possible. Although, the majority of my time has been spent focused on the Whitecaps Community Foundation Reading Club. This year I was able to grow the program to 322 schools (259 participated in 2017) from the West Michigan area. Students who complete the program during March is Reading Month receive the opportunity to attend a Whitecaps game for FREE! I have also attended mascot appearances, worked in the box office on game days, fulfilled phone and mail orders for tickets using Ticket Return, logged all group ticket orders for the Reading Club, assisted with parking on game days, and of course, pulled tarp.

2nd Engineering Co-op Rotation ME

Major: Mechanical Engineering During my second rotation I completed tasks such as performing FEA on various components of the trailer suspensions. I was a part of a team to develop a brand new product. I made component designs, etc. I was able to work in the test lab. There I continued to improve my welding skills, along with other fabricating and mechanical skills. I visited a shell molding foundry.

Miller Johnson Attorneys Internship

Major: Political Science During my time at Miller Johnson, I completed a variety of tasks and projects. I conducted legal research and fact investigation, reviewed legal documents, wrote reports, and drafted legal memorandums, analyzed active litigation and supported case preparation, filed Freedom of Information Act requests, and acquired police reports.

Co-op

Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering I was responsible for supporting and performing tests on Pro Pilot Assist (our semi-autonomous system) vehicles. I identified leading competitive vehicles which we used to evaluate the Pro Pilot Park feature. I attended the evaluation, performed some tests independently, and supported on others. I designed and performed a study to determine the appropriateness of the Pro-Pilot traffic jam timeout threshold. I also attended tuning for the new 2019 Altima. I assisted throughout the term with proposals, test route development, and instrumenting vehicles with test equipment.

Zeeland Recreation Youth Sports Intern

Major: Sport Management I chose a few programs to take the lead on and work with the instructors to ensure they had their rosters, equipment, and everything they needed to run the program. I worked with Zeeland varsity coaches to gather coaching resources and create packets for the youth volunteer coaches. I attended and participated in board meetings, staff meetings, little league drafts, and coaches meetings. I researched and developed new program ideas and initiated the launch of youth pickle ball. I distributed post program surveys, analyzed the feedback from the surveys, and created reports of recommendations and advancement ideas. I helped run one time events such as the daddy daughter prom and little league showcase day. I created flyers for upcoming events and programs. I created program schedules and designed t-shirt logos for live arm, coach pitch, and tee-ball teams. I took inventory and organized over 600 little league hats and uniforms. I have worked with local partnering businesses in picking up equipment and making orders.

Co-Op II at Herman Miller

Major: Mechanical Engineering Over the course of the first two semesters, I was responsible for designed and implemented several fixtures that were used for producing products. I also provided engineering support for Lateral Assembly Lines production. I also worked with another engineer to justify purchasing an bottom sealing bander for shipping as a capital project. Working with another engineer we outsourced product to an outside vendor. I also worked to develop a roll formed part on an automated bender. This would bring a part back in house from an outside vendor.

Co-Op I

Major: Electrical Engineering Tasks include supporting the product manufacturing team with Work Instructions, updating Bill of Materials, and releasing Engineering Change Notices. Projects include creating Testing Fixtures that ensure all of our shipped products meet specification.

Controls Engineer Intern

Major: Computer Engineering I was not treated like an intern during this rotation. The project I was assigned to demanded that I learn fast and become a real part of the team. I believe I rose to the challenge and was able to hold my own for the project.

Athletics Intern

Major: Sport Management Online work scheduling games, refs, and checking contracts. Receive and send emails, work during games and events. Some work would include announcing, scoreboard, tickets, and parking.

Holland Community Recreation

Major: Sport Management I was a site supervisor for basketball and softball practices, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse games and tournaments, and for a basketball league that was played in multiple locations. I was in charge of facilities and making sure coaches had what they needed to be successful. I helped run the Lakeshore youth basketball league by uploading scores as well. I assisted in the marketing of the Spring Fever basketball tournament. I planned and coordinated a Junior Adventure Club for elementary kids during their spring break. I was also tasked with researching national recreational trends and comparing offerings with what Holland has. I got to help run one time events such as daddy daughter dances and parents nights out, too.

District Intern

Major: Political Science As an intern, I did a plethora of tasks. Day to day things like answering phone calls, This was important because phone calls are a big way constituents are able to contact their representative. I would go through the current news in and around the district, to be sure that all staff members were up to date with the news. Also, I did thongs such as entering mail into the computer system. This was important because this ensured a response to peoples questions.

3rd Co-op At Gentex

Major: Computer Engineering I worked on a wide collection of projects that, while varied in their details, all served to improve the performance of our production processes. For example, one of my projects was to work on automating product quality testing. Another project helped to alert technicians and other support staff if any maintenance was required on production lines or equipment. Finally, my last big project focused on creating efficiencies and other improvements to software used across various departments.

Herman Miller Coop 3

Major: Product Design and Manufacturing Engineering This semester I was given much more responsibility. I was taking on projects where I was the main engineer from start to finish. Some of these included figuring out the problem, designing the drawings needed, writing the program, purchasing the parts, and overseeing the install of the machine.

Engineering Co-op 3: Trans-matic Manufacturing

Major: Mechanical Engineering I handled the responsibilities of a tool design engineer. As this was my third co-op semester, I had significant experience and was given corresponding responsibility. I led several design projects of varying size and complexity. Most of my time was spent doing design work in a CAD system.

Mechanical Engineer CO-OP 3

Major: Mechanical Engineering Designed a test bench for a new Photometry Lab. Developed a positioning fixture for lighting devices.

Dematic Co-Op III

Major: Mechanical Engineering During my final Co-op semester at Dematic I was able to work on several different projects, completing a wide range of tasks. I worked primarily on the material handling systems within Amazon Fulfillment Centers located in Joliet, IL and Sacramento, CA. In my previous Co-op rotation I worked on the installation drawings and ordered parts for these sites. During this Co-op rotation the installation team was onsite, near the end of the installation process. I aided the installation team and mechanical project lead in ordering priority parts to site. I was also given the opportunity to travel to both of these sites to commission. After the completion of these jobs, I started working on a Fulfillment Center in Long Beach, Ca. I completed several different sets of installation drawings and ordered various parts for this site.