Stella Johnson, a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech, is a part of this year’s summer internship program. Stella’s intern experience is a full-circle moment that started two years ago when she was a student at Cape Henry Collegiate (CHC).
Stella decided to pursue a degree in construction management after her part-time job at Home Depot during the pandemic. “As I worked there, I became more interested in construction because I was learning so much about different materials and tools. I also knew that I wanted to pursue a more hands-on career, so I started looking into construction majors.”
After applying to Virginia Tech’s Construction Management program, David Ervin, Executive Vice President of MEB, spoke to Stella’s engineering class at CHC about the upcoming Cape Henry Collegiate Performing Arts & Innovation Center project. She said it felt like a sign to her that she was on the right track after learning more about the industry and what goes into a project.
Fast forward to the Virginia Tech Career Fair, Stella recognized David and spoke to him about an internship. She is now an intern at her alma mater on the same project she heard about while it was in the planning phase.
Stella and MEB Surveyor Jerry Jones onsite at Cape Henry Collegiate.
“It has been a really cool experience. Seeing my old teachers and the staff is really nice, but I think the best part is getting the opportunity to work with the faculty rather than being a student. I get to walk the halls with a different perspective now and reflect on my time spent at this school. It is a wonderful experience.”
“The most interesting part is how many little details there are. It is really cool to see the behind-the-scenes of how an auditorium is built.”
We asked her about her favorite part so far of the internship and she said, “I enjoy how I get to experience the hands-on aspect of construction and how my superintendent Robbie has helped make that happen. Since being here, I have gained a much better understanding of what goes on in the field. I really enjoy learning about the different techniques the trades use and how they realistically accomplish their work.”
