AIST Foundation Steel Intern Scholarship
Carson A. Nuernberger
This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to return to Nucor — this time at Nucor Steel–Berkeley in Huger, S.C., USA. I was placed in the cold mill, but my experience extended far beyond that. I collaborated with metallurgists, production and maintenance teams, supervisors, and many more, gaining exposure to a wide range of operations across the mill. My work spanned metallurgy, trial coordination, process optimization, data analysis and, most importantly, safety.
This was my second internship with Nucor — my first being at Nucor-Yamato Steel Co. — and once again, the company went above and beyond in investing time and resources into developing my skills. I was introduced to new product groups and new parts of the mill, each one pushing me to grow and expand my understanding of steelmaking.
What continues to stand out to me most is Nucor’s unwavering commitment to safety. Every day begins with a toolbox meeting focused on identifying and mitigating risks, and it’s clear that safety isn’t just a priority — it’s embedded in the culture.
Throughout the summer, I had the chance to meet Nucor teammates from across the country. Though each one brings something unique to the table, they all share the same strong culture, grit and work ethic. One highlight of the summer was attending the Nucor Intern Summit, hosted right here at Berkeley. It was inspiring to connect with interns from other divisions and learn about their projects and experiences.
I’m incredibly grateful to both Nucor and AIST for making this summer possible. As I head back to Rolla, Mo., to continue my studies at Missouri S&T, I’m excited to bring this real-world experience back to the classroom and keep building on what I’ve learned.