Michael Schindler’s internship combined two items on his list of favorites—building structures and bringing people closer to nature.
When the civil engineering transfer student came to the U.S. as part of a German security detail at Dulles International Airport, he found more opportunities in higher education than in Germany.
He began taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College in 2009, after he finished his associate’s degree he transferred to the Volgenau School of Engineering.
“The transfer process from NOVA to Mason was very easy. My academic advisor here at Volgenau, Lisa Nolder, was with me every step of the way,” said Schindler.
“I’ve always been interested in green living and the environment,” he said. “It started when I was a paratrooper in the German military. I spent much time outdoors then—even though some was in not-so-nice circumstances—it gave me an appreciation for nature.”
Internships are a part of everyday life for students at Volgenau, and so Schindler had no trouble landing one. “I found the job through Hire Mason. The entire process from application to first day at work took less than two weeks.”
As an intern with Wagman Heavy Civil, Schindler’s diverse duties range from running errands, to calculating excavation amounts, to making arrangements for leased machinery. The part of project that makes him proudest though is the tunnel under a ramp near the Dulles Access Toll Road (Rt. 267) and Rt. 7 at Tysons Corner.
Since the 1960s, the quaint cow pastures at Tysons Corner have become a complex mass of highways, shopping malls, and office buildings that boast one of America’s largest employment retail centers. Now, developers aim to transform suburban sprawl to a livable urban center. To make Tysons more city-like, however, pedestrians will need access to office buildings and stores. The 40-foot long tunnel that is part of this project will improve pedestrian and bicycle access from the residential areas near the interchange to retail and office space on the other side of the highway.
The final project placed precast concrete segments under the highway ramp. Schindler said he calculated excavation amounts, developed the work plans and safety protocols.
“Michael has a great positive attitude,” said Vincent Yuskoski, the project’s roadway superintendent. “He’s always pleasant and willing to help whenever someone needs it. He is very good with Computer Aided Design (CAD) and explaining what he is doing. He will help the guys in the field with their operations, so he knows what it take to complete a project.”
“Having interns like Michael is a great benefit to our company,” said Project Manager, Dave Leber. “The students receive on-the-job training, and we have a chance to work with potential employees before they graduate from college. We look forward to having more student interns work with us in the future. This has been a wonderful partnership."