Internships provide real-time, practical experience for students in any field. A recent college graduate landed an internship helping to build a new $50 million Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building at her own Allison Kassian and colleague from GH Phipps. Credit: Metropolitan State Universityuniversity, leaving concrete evidence that her alma mater prepared her well for her future.

Allison Kassian spent her senior year at Metropolitan University in Denver as a project engineer intern with GH Phipps Construction. Her duties include performing weekly safety checks, giving tours, and tracking progress through photos. As the building nears completion, she is assembling a punch list.

“I am super proud and excited for this to be my first project,” she said. “I was here from the beginning and seen it come up from scratch. It’s a good feeling to be able to contribute to the future of my own university.”

The new building incorporates a number of innovations, including extensive laboratory space dedicated to specific skills. Kassian’s favorite is the structural testing room, which gives students hands-on experience to determine whether a design is sound.

She also singles out the top floor, which houses offices of several aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies. The industry-academe cooperation will give future students opportunities to participate in satellite design, construction, and operations.

Kassian graduated in May with a degree in civil engineering technology. She is now a full-time project engineer with GH Phipps, helping to finish the building in time for a June 22 ribbon cutting. Her name is inscribed on the final beam, along with the signatures of her construction colleagues.