Name: Kabish Shah

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company - UMBC PAHB Phase II

Major(s)/Minor(s): Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics

Expected Graduation Year: May 2014

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service- learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

 I learned the infrastructure of construction sites and the construction process which exposed me to the general requirements of the career in construction industry and helped me to ensure that it is something I am interested in continuing to pursue in the future. During my internship I oversaw (with supervision) the installations of the MEP contractors for compliance with the documents and the needs of the project. I was involved with the LEED and Commissioning work of the MEP equipment. I conducted quality control inspections for all trades (not just MEP) for compliance with the specifications of the project. Report and follow up on all. I also developed an understanding of business communications and working with people from all phases of construction, from laborers to presidents of companies. Some projects I worked on are LEED, Duct Tracking, Quality Control, Tracking Hot Water and Chilled Water Pipe testing, MEP, Internal Auditing, Cost Tracking and many more. I liked doing quality control because I believe as an engineer; it’s my duty to make sure that the job is done as it’s supposed to be done. And, there is no compromise in quality and integrity of the work.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I enjoyed being able to shadow engineers and use my skills in the real world. I learned a great deal from the engineers and I can see myself performing the same types of tasks in the coming future.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

My internship experience with Whiting-Turner is very valuable to me. I have learned a lot through this experience, from how to be professional to making friends with someone completely different than me. Some of the most valuable things I have learned are how to communicate professionally, work well with sub-contractors, manage time, and have fun.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Get started as soon as possible. The earlier you put your feet in the door, the better off you will be. Internship experience is something that cannot be compared with anything else.

How do you see your experience as meaningful? This might involve skills you’ve gained, information you’ve learned, mentors you’ve connected with, or projects you’ve completed.

My experience is meaningful because I feel like I am giving something back to UMBC, which I am very proud of. I am surprised with the help I am getting from engineers from my group. My supervisor is always there to answer my questions related to construction and the company. Also, I am proud to use my engineering skills to complete the projects.

Please provide a short quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

 I believe in giving back and being a part of UMBC PAHB Phase II project is all I could ask for.

 Congratulations on graduating next week, Kabish!

Name: Robert Roselle