AIST Foundation Steel Intern Scholarship
Raelynn Ramsey
This past summer, I had the opportunity to work as a mechanical engineering intern at Nucor, one of North America’s largest steel manufacturers. Being a mechanical engineer intern for Nucor offered me the amazing opportunity to combine academic knowledge with real-world, hands-on experience. I was provided with more than just observation time: I got to work, learn and contribute to actual production and problem-solving efforts and I was pushed out of my comfort zone. Nucor empowered me to speak up, share ideas and take initiative. The culture of Nucor created an environment where I grew in confidence, and it helped me see my future as an engineer. I learned the value of being adaptable. Not everything goes as planned in a plant environment, and I saw firsthand how engineers troubleshoot in real time.
My summer internship with Nucor wasn’t just a summer job: it was an experience that challenged me, taught me more than any textbook can, and helped me apply what I have learned in school and prepared me for the reality of engineering. It helped me solidify my passion for mechanical engineering and gave me clarity about the type of work I want to pursue after graduation and the type of culture I want to be part of.
Whether I return to Nucor in the future or take what I’ve learned into another role, I know that the experience I gained during this internship will stay with me forever. It helped me grow in ways I didn’t expect.