AIST Foundation Steel Intern Scholarship - Ronald E. Lincoln
Jalen R. Graham
This summer, I completed my second internship with Nucor at Nucor Yamato Steel in Blytheville, Ark., USA, serving as a safety mechanical engineering intern. Nucor’s culture is second to none, and it was the main reason I chose to return. The primary goal of my internship was to collaborate with the safety and health, maintenance, production, and environmental teams to complete safety-focused projects in the rolling mills. At Nucor, safety is the number one priority nationwide, and I fully embraced that belief.
This summer was filled with tremendous growth and learning. Every day, I was encouraged to step out, take initiative and make a meaningful difference. I was fortunate to work on several impactful projects that not only enhanced the safety of our teammates but also improved production processes. Many of these solutions were implemented plant-wide, helping eliminate potential hazards while allowing teammates to complete their tasks more efficiently.
In addition, I contributed to streamlining lifting processes, enabling the safe and effective transport of equipment to areas that were previously difficult to access. I also developed solutions to improve product visibility along the production line, allowing teammates to monitor operations more effectively. Through these experiences, I built lasting relationships with full-time teammates, deepened my understanding of Nucor Yamato Steel’s production flow, and further developed my technical expertise, time management, and overall engineering skills.
I am excited and grateful to continue my internship throughout my senior year, where I look forward to driving additional improvements and continuing to make a difference. My experience at Nucor Yamato Steel has been both challenging and rewarding. I am truly grateful to be part of such a great industry and an outstanding company. Thank you to AIST for selecting me as a scholarship recipient, to Nucor Yamato Steel for this incredible internship opportunity, to my mentors for their guidance, and to all of the Nucor teammates who made this summer such a remarkable experience.