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As the 2026 summer internship program reaches its midpoint, Clarkson and Global interns have already gained valuable experience both in the office and in the field while exploring the many career paths available throughout the construction industry.
Designed to provide a well-rounded understanding of the business, the internship program goes far beyond a student's assigned role or department. Throughout the summer, interns have had opportunities to work alongside project teams, visit active jobsites, learn from partner companies, connect with industry professionals, and experience the Kansas City community.
Learning Beyond the Office
This summer's interns have spent time working with teams across a variety of departments, including project management, engineering, estimating, accounting, safety, communications, and field operations. They have also had opportunities to learn more about the work done by Clarkson, Global Earthwork & Underground, and Hoy Excavating, gaining exposure to different types of construction and career paths within the industry.
One of the highlights of the summer has been a series of project and jobsite tours, including a visit to the Improve I-70 Kansas City project, where interns learned about the planning, coordination, and teamwork required to deliver one of the region's largest infrastructure projects.
"One thing that stood out to me during our visit to the Improve I-70 project was the sheer scale of everything involved," said Global intern Andrew Rodriguez. "Seeing the project firsthand and hearing about the challenges the team works through every day gave me a much better understanding of the planning, coordination, and teamwork required to keep a major infrastructure project moving forward."
For many interns, seeing work in progress has helped connect classroom learning with real-world construction operations.
"One area I've been getting more involved in this summer is trench-based work, which has given me a much better understanding of the construction process," said Global intern Corbin Maxon. "Watching pipe installation in the field helped me see how much planning, coordination, and attention to detail goes into every step, from excavation to final installation. It's been a great opportunity to learn more about an aspect of construction I hadn't been exposed to before."
Connecting with Kansas City's AEC Community
In addition to project experience, interns have participated in several networking and professional development opportunities through TeamKC and the Kansas City Area Development Council.
This summer's activities included Intern Night at The K, where interns connected with hundreds of fellow students from across the region, as well as the Share the Love KC event at Atlas9, which brought together architecture, engineering, construction, and design interns to learn more about the industry's impact on Kansas City.
"Attending the Share the Love KC event gave me an even greater appreciation for Kansas City and the impact our industry has on the region," said Clarkson intern Julia Kingsbury. "Hearing from industry professionals, learning more about the city's growth, and connecting with other interns made me excited about the opportunities available both within construction and throughout the Kansas City community."
The event also reinforced the significant role the construction industry plays in shaping the region.
"One thing that really stood out to me at the Share the Love KC event was seeing just how many students are spending their summer helping shape Kansas City's future. Learning about the impact the industry has had on the region while connecting with other interns was inspiring and gave me an even greater appreciation for the work happening across the city," said Clarkson intern Emily Reams.
Looking Ahead
While the interns have already gained valuable experience over the first half of the summer, there is still plenty more to come! Additional project tours, volunteer opportunities, networking events, and department experiences will continue to provide opportunities for growth as interns prepare for future careers in the industry.
At Clarkson and Global, internships are designed to provide more than just work experience. By exposing students to a variety of projects, people, and career paths, the program helps build a deeper understanding of the construction industry while developing the next generation of leaders.
We are proud of the work this year's interns have accomplished so far and look forward to seeing what they achieve during the remainder of the summer!
