Gabrielle R. Pelletier
Steel Dynamics Inc. - Southwest - Sinton Division
My name is Gabrielle Pelletier, and I am a rising junior at Trine University majoring in electrical engineering with a minor in metallurgy engineering. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Steel Dynamics Inc. – Flat Roll Group Southwest-Sinton Division in Sinton, Texas, through the AIST Intern Scholarship. Accepting this scholarship and internship meant moving all the way across the country from Ohio to Texas. It was completely outside of my comfort zone and felt very intimidating when I first considered it. Looking back on this summer, however, it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
After a long 24-hour drive with stops only for food and gas, I finally arrived in Texas. From my very first day, I knew I had made the right decision. The people I worked with were incredibly welcoming and genuinely wanted to teach me everything they could. No matter how many questions I asked, there was always someone willing to explain a concept, walk me through a process or even demonstrate it hands-on. That support gave me the confidence to step outside of my comfort zone once again and take on projects I knew very little about, even as an intern. Instead of feeling afraid to ask questions or try something new, I learned that the best way to grow was to be curious and take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects. Some focused on developing my technical engineering skills, while others gave me valuable hands-on experience. Every project challenged me both technically and professionally. One of the projects I worked on was automating the mold segment test water pits. This involved designing and implementing a new control system by integrating electrical controls into an existing mechanical process. The new system reduced the need for operators to constantly monitor water levels, allowing them to focus on their primary responsibilities instead of worrying about overflowing water or manually turning pumps on and off. I also completed several controls-related projects, where I gained experience using TIA Portal, iba and other industrial software. Through these projects, I added new digital and analog signals to improve data collection, allowing for more detailed analysis and helping identify potential equipment issues before they became failures. In addition, I updated IP address documentation and system organization, making information easier to access and troubleshoot for both current and future team members. These experiences strengthened both my technical abilities and my confidence as an engineer, while showing me how even small improvements can make a meaningful impact.
This internship has helped me grow in ways I never expected. It strengthened my technical skills, challenged me to become more confident in myself and confirmed that I want to build a career in the steel industry. Moving across the country seemed like a huge leap at the beginning of the summer, but it turned into an unforgettable experience filled with incredible people, meaningful projects and lessons that I will carry with me throughout my career. I am incredibly grateful to everyone at Steel Dynamics who invested their time in helping me learn and grow. I am also thankful to AIST for awarding me the Steel Intern Scholarship, which made this opportunity possible. I cannot wait to see where this journey in the steel industry takes me next.