Intern Delaware is Engaging Delaware's Emerging Talent

BY ALEXIS DUHADAWAY

›› University of Notre Dame junior Michael McKenzie spent summer 2021 as an intern at BPGS Construction. McKenzie majors in mechanical engineering and spent half of his summer in the office and the second half on-site working hands-on with the BPGS Construction team.

McKenzie participated in Intern Delaware and won the Engagement Game, a summer-long effort to encourage interns to explore Delaware. The game included challenges to utilize the Intern Delaware app and get to know their peers, learn more about corporate partners and Delaware’s history. It also tasked interns to visit museums, restaurants, biking and walking trails, and famous Delaware events like the state fair.

We had a chance to catch up with McKenzie and hear how Intern Delaware impacted him.

Michael, you participated in Intern Delaware. What was that like? What did you learn?

I really enjoyed the program. I appreciated getting to connect with other interns in the area and the speakers. The signature events themselves were helpful as well, introducing us to leaders in the Delaware community. I tried to take full advantage of the game and its challenges to explore the state. Even as a Delaware native, I enjoyed discovering new places because I hadn’t really ventured beyond the Wilmington area.

This summer, I went to the beach with my younger brother and on our way down, we stopped at places that were part of the game. Typically when I drive, I don’t take the time to stop anywhere. It was cool to see Smyrna, the State Fair, and some of the museums.

The program helped me learn more about Delaware and build my network here. Even though I’ve lived here my whole life, I still made so many new connections this summer, which was incredibly valuable. Intern Delaware helped me realize the importance of building your network and utilizing the connections you make along the way.

What was your biggest takeaway from your internship? How do you think it prepared you for your future career?

The biggest takeaway from my internship was how to adapt and learn quickly. I was working in a position that isn’t necessarily geared toward mechanical engineers, so there was a learning curve for me. I learned how to be a professional—like being timely and responding to emails or ensuring my calendar was organized. It’s a little cliché, but I learned so much from being in the field and getting “thrown into the fire”.

As the inaugural and reigning champion of the Intern Delaware game, what advice would you give future Intern Delaware participants?

Take advantage of the opportunities as much as you can. It may not be possible to attend every event with your schedule, but if you’re in the program and don’t participate, you are missing out on so much potential. These opportunities are being given to you, so participate in the game’s challenges, listen to the speakers, get coffee with other interns, and attend the networking events. That’s how you benefit from the summer and make the most of the program.

Intern Delaware is dedicated to helping build Delaware’s future workforce by keeping talent in the First State. The 2022 program will run from Jun 1 - August 5, 2022.

Learn how your company and interns can become involved at interndelaware.com or by contacting Alexis DuHadaway at aduhadaway@ dscc.com.