Pellissippi State, BWXT Y-12 form new intern partnership

A new internship program is in place at BWXT Y-12 in Oak Ridge for Pellissippi State students.

The program, which began this summer, already has brought two students into BWXT Y-12’s Engineering Department to work as interns.

Wade Simpson, a student in the Civil Engineering Technology program, is working in the Civil Engineering Group, and Josh Tennant, a student in the Computer Integrated Drafting and Design Technology program, is working in the Mechanical Engineering Group.

Carolyn Carson, director of Placement at Pellissippi State, said BWXT Y-12 officials suggested establishing such an internship in early spring, with focus on students in the College’s computer design and civil engineering programs.

To be considered for the internship, students must meet minimum grade-point requirements, be in their second year of Civil Engineering Technology or Computer Integrated Drafting and Design Technology studies and be nominated by a faculty member.

The BWXT Y-12 complex is involved in nuclear weapons research, storage, production and refurbishing and nuclear reactor fueling.

The agreement with BWXT Y-12 is one of several in place between Pellissippi State and Oak Ridge employers. Since 1998, for instance, approximately 40 students have participated in U.S. Department of Energy internship programs, and partnerships also are in place with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Spallation Neutron Source Facility.

Several students have been hired at Oak Ridge facilities as a result of their participation in internship programs, Carson says.

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

For past issues, visit the Inside Pellissippi Archive.