MCKALE HILL AT STRATA-G
INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE EXIT PROJECT:
My name is McKale Hill, and I am from Anchorage. I grew up in both Alaska and Hawaii and I am now attending the University of Alaska Anchorage. I am going for a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a minor in mathematics and I expect to graduate in May 2023.
I chose to take an internship with The Aleut Corporation (TAC) because I wanted to further my work experience in the engineering world and see what opportunities I could have out of state, while still being a part of the Alaskan community. I interned with Strata-G Solutions in Huntsville, Alabama, a TAC subsidiary.
Through my internship, I learned how important it is to think of how a product will be manufactured before designing it. At Strata-G, products get designed and manufactured on site, so you can talk directly to the manufacturers who will work on your design. This allows for real-time feedback on how to improve the design. I also learned that it can be efficient to make a tool that can speed up the process of making another part. My main project was to model a tool that will make the manufacturing process of a future project easier and faster. The most beneficial part of this internship was the overall work experience I gained in the engineering field. I’ve learned great general knowledge that I will be able to apply in my future work.
One challenge I faced during this internship was learning how to start a project on my own. I needed to find out where to start in modeling a large tool with many components by myself. I was able to push through this challenge by asking questions that will lead me in the right direction and by being confident in what I was doing.
This opportunity helped me see what economic options are available to me in other areas while also experiencing other cultures. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing true southern hospitality because of how welcoming everyone was throughout this experience. I have been able to grow socially by being able to talk to everyone within the company and see what a great community that has been built along with it.
This experience complimented my education nicely because the same software that I was taught to use in class is used at Strata-G. This meant I did not have to spend weeks learning how to use a program before I could get any work done. This helped me further my career goals by allowing me to learn more about the work rather than the design software.
After completing my degree, I hope to push myself to become more efficient and seek other opportunities that will broaden my educational and cultural knowledge. TAC has many job opportunities I would be interested in that would help me achieve this goal. I highly recommend taking an internship through TAC and its subsidiaries or partners because of how accommodating they are and how much you will be able to learn.
Strata-G Solutions (SGS) is a TAC subsidiary based in Huntsville, Alabama. SGS delivers comprehensive engineering product solutions that provide full product realization throughrapid prototyping, full-rate production, and full system documentation, along with on-site modification and installation services.
To learn more about SGS, visit https://stratag-llc.com
If you’re interested in applying for an internship, please contact The Aleut Foundation.