| OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program |
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| Web Brief (Aug 05) |
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Students gain on-the-job experience through bridge program internships
It's a classic Catch 22: Potential employers won't hire someone without experience, but how can they get experience if they can't get hired? For students who are looking forward to a career in construction and engineering, ODOT and Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners (OBDP) have developed a new internship program that provides on-the-job training on Oregon’s largest transportation improvement project in 50 years. And job experience doesn’t get much better than that.
This summer ODOT, through OBDP, offered three Oregon college students the opportunity to learn about a career in the fast-growing industry of highway and public works construction. Interns are working a three-month rotation on the OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program, which is repairing and replacing hundreds of highway bridges throughout the state.
Brandon Bilyeu, a junior at Willamette University, is the economic stimulus intern. He is researching and analyzing materials costs and national workforce shortages. Jessica Lammers, a junior at Willamette University, is the design intern. Josh Sweet, a senior at Oregon State University, is the engineering tech intern, a job for which he has the lineage: His father is a nuclear and electrical engineer.
OBDP, the private-sector firm ODOT hired to manage and deliver the bridge program, is hosting the three interns in its offices in Salem. Under the guidance and mentorship of experienced engineers, economists, and designers, Bilyeu, Lammers, and Sweet are gaining valuable experience.
“Part of the reason I wanted to get an internship working on ODOT’s bridge program was to help me figure out what I want to do after I graduate,” said Bilyeu. “This internship will help me decide between civil, mechanical, or structural engineering.”
During her internship, Lammers has been working on project tasks that allow her to gain business experience and learn more about her field of study.
“I helped develop an analysis tool that compares bids on projects with similar scope of work and material requirements, so that the agency can determine how reasonable a bid is,” said Lammers. “It has been great to work on projects that really matter.”
Sweet, who is enrolled in the School of Business and the School of Economics at Oregon State University, is from Corvallis, Ore. His ultimate goal is to enter into business with his father, providing engineering consulting and design services. Sweet said he knows at least one reason why the bridge program internship stands out from the rest.
“We get paid!” said Sweet. “A lot of my friends don’t have paid internships, and I think that because my position is paid, I’m expected to work harder and learn more. Ultimately, it’s a better experience for everyone.
ODOT and OBDP hope that the pilot OTIA III State Bridge Delivery Program internship program will become annual, with new students benefiting every year. The benefits of the internship program have been immediate for Bilyeu and Lammers who have accepted part-time positions with OBDP to continue throughout the school year.
Students interested in working as an intern on the bridge program next year can learn about and apply for opportunities starting in May 2006 at www.jobs4oregon.com.
## ODOT ##
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