From Coast to Coast, Bucknell Students Spend the Summer Learning on the Job

Zachary Ebilane '27, mechanical engineering

Internship: Porsche Engineering in Los Angeles

As a test engineering intern at Porsche Engineering, Zachary Ebilane '27 evaluated prototype vehicles and components destined for future production models. Photo by Gregg Segal

Zachary Ebilane '27, a mechanical engineering major from Long Beach, Calif., was one of just seven engineering interns at Porsche Engineering's Los Angeles facility, where he worked in the company's early prototype and development group. As a test engineering intern, he supported engineers in evaluating everything from powertrain components to "infotainment" systems while serving as a "vehicle companion" for five prototype vehicles with test drivers to collaborate closely on testing activities and requirements.

"They started me with one car to see how I learned and performed," he says. "By July, I had five that I was responsible for."

The opportunity began with a chance encounter. While home over Thanksgiving break in 2025, Ebilane ran into mechanical engineering alumnus Brian Dsouza '25, a vehicle engineer at Porsche Engineering. After the conversation, Ebilane searched the company's career page, found an internship opening, and reached out to Dsouza again. Dsouza referred him for the position, helping to put his application on the hiring team's radar before Ebilane advanced through a rigorous, multi-round interview process.

As an intern, Ebilane helped to evaluate cars long before they reach consumers. "They brought in cars that won't be released for three or four years," he says. "It was incredible to be able to work on them."

Ebilane credits Bucknell's hands-on College of Engineering curriculum and small classes with preparing him for the role, particularly the communication and teamwork skills that helped him stand out during the interview process.

The experience has also affirmed his career ambitions. "I've made it pretty clear to my managers that I'd love the opportunity to come back," he says. "I really enjoyed the work."

Vincent Torres '27, accounting

Internship: Kearney & Company in Arlington, Va.

Vincent Torres '27 spent the summer interning with Kearney & Company, where he received an offer to return for a full-time role as an audit associate after graduation. Photo by Sam Levitan Photography

When accounting major Vincent Torres '27 first came to Bucknell, he didn't have his career path mapped out. Originally a management major within the Freeman College of Management, he discovered a different direction after taking his first accounting course. He was immediately drawn to the structure, analysis and attention to detail the field requires.

At the Center for Career Advancement's Career Fair in fall 2025, he arrived with a stack of resumes and a goal: leave without any remaining copies. By the end of the event, he had none left. And he had made a strong connection with representatives from Kearney & Company.

After learning more about the Alexandria, Va.-based accounting and consulting firm, Torres applied and was selected to join the firm's audit team supporting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

During his summer internship, he reviewed government contracts, gathered client information, participated in client calls and prepared audit work papers. The experience allowed Torres to explore different areas of the firm and confirmed that auditing was the right path for him. It also led to a full-time offer: After graduating from Bucknell, Torres will return to Kearney as an audit associate.

Through weekly sessions introducing interns to Kearney's various engagement teams, Torres also learned more about where that career could take him. He became especially interested in the state engagement team, which offers opportunities to work with clients in different locations.

That possibility aligns with another interest Torres discovered through Bucknell: exploring the world. After studying abroad in London during his sophomore year and traveling throughout Europe, Torres hopes to build a career that combines his interest in accounting with opportunities to travel. He also plans to earn his CPA.

"I didn't know much about auditing before this internship," says Torres, who is from San Antonio, Texas. "I was kind of thrown into the ocean, and I had to either sink or swim. And I swam."

Max Wilson '27, business analytics and computer science

Internship: PNC in New York City

Max Wilson '27 spent the summer in New York City with PNC, an opportunity made possible through Bucknell's alumni network. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

Fresh off a study abroad experience in Rome, Max Wilson '27 traded one bustling city for another this summer, with an internship on Madison Avenue with PNC’s asset-backed finance group. Wilson says it was the relationships and opportunities at Bucknell that made the opportunity possible. 

Wilson met Doug Frankel '98, P'30, while representing the Freeman College of Management at a prospective student event. Impressed with Wilson, Frankel contacted Freeman College's Office of Experiential Learning to see if Wilson would be interested in applying for an internship with PNC, where he oversees structuring for the asset-backed finance group.

"I feel like all the alumni I've met are always willing to help," says Wilson, who is from Needham, Mass. "Whether it's giving advice or helping students make connections, alumni are always ready to support other Bucknellians."

Bucknell also helped prepare Wilson for the experience. He credits Missy Gutkowski, assistant dean for experiential learning and Bethany Slear, program director of experiential learning, with mentoring him throughout his entire college career, while Patty Myers, a business & consulting career coach with Bucknell's Center for Career Advancement, helped him prepare for interviews with mock case studies and industry-specific guidance.

Following several weeks of training alongside six other interns, Wilson began applying his skills to real-world projects on PNC's structuring team, where he helped assess risk for large asset-backed finance transactions. He says his Bucknell coursework in analytics and computer science proved valuable in the role.

After one more year in Lewisburg, Wilson hopes to return to New York to begin his career. And just as Bucknell alumni helped launch his own professional journey, he hopes to one day pay it forward by mentoring and opening doors for future Bucknell students.

Haden Williams '27, markets, innovation & design

Internship: Vanguard in Malvern, Pa.

Haden Williams '27 gained experience at Vanguard’s Malvern, Pa., campus, supporting research on consumer behavior and helping translate data insights into business decisions. Photo by April Gamiz

On a park-like campus just outside Philadelphia, Haden Wiliams '27 spent her summer gaining experience in a field she hadn't initially considered.

Williams, a markets, innovation & design major in the Freeman College of Management, didn't envision herself at a financial services firm. Her interests leaned more toward consumer behavior and the psychology behind decision-making.

That perspective began to shift after a conversation with Danielle O'Sullivan '24, who encouraged Williams to explore opportunities at her employer, Vanguard. O'Sullivan told Williams about Vanguard's North Star Experiential Learning Program, a two-week virtual experience that introduces students to the company and its internship pathways. Williams applied, interviewed and landed a business leadership internship with Vanguard's global brand marketing team.

Based in Malvern, Pa., and living on Villanova's campus with fellow interns, Williams supported research on consumer behavior for Vanguard's personal wealth division. The work reinforced ideas she first encountered at Bucknell, particularly in an Understanding Consumers course she took with Professor Ankita Kumar, markets, innovation & design.

"We were trying to understand what people want, why they make the choices they do, and what's getting in the way when they don't," says Williams, who is from East Stroudsburg, Pa. "It's storytelling grounded in data."

Although she expected to gravitate toward the creative side of marketing, Williams says she is now drawn to the analytical side.

"The projects that I worked on — analyzing patterns in different generations — were really interesting," she says. "I found a lot of value in having this experience and seeing how research translates into decision-making."

The internship has also broadened her career aspirations. Williams says she hopes to return to Vanguard after graduation through the company's accelerated career development program.

Dominic Viozzi '27, civil engineering

Internship: A. Merante Contracting Inc. in Pittsburgh

Dominic Viozzi ’27 interned with A. Merante Contracting Inc., where he learned the day-to-day operations of the construction industry. Photo by Jeff Swensen

When civil engineering major Dominic Viozzi '27 first met Italo Merante '18, he wasn't looking for an internship. He was looking for an opportunity to learn.

The two connected through the Contractors Association of Western Pennsylvania Student Estimating Competition, where Merante, an estimator and project manager with A. Merante Contracting Inc., helped coach Bucknell's College of Engineering team. The annual competition gives students hands-on experience with real-world construction estimating by challenging them to bid projects using actual plans, specifications and industry practices.

The experience sparked Viozzi's interest in the construction side of civil engineering — and he recognized the value of the connection he had made. After the competition ended, he stayed in touch with Merante, reaching out to ask if he could visit Pittsburgh over winter break to learn more about his work. Merante welcomed him, and that first visit led to several more.

During one trip to Pittsburgh, Merante surprised Viozzi with an unexpected offer. "We were sitting at lunch, and he said, 'Dom, I've been really impressed with you. I like the drive you have to learn and your passion for the industry. I put together an offer for you to come out to Pittsburgh and intern with me next summer.' "

This summer, Viozzi, who is from Hershey, Pa., put his classroom knowledge into practice at A. Merante Contracting, where he gained experience in both office and field operations. He has tracked materials, communicated with vendors and subcontractors, assisted with project accounting, visited job sites to help monitor quality control, and gained an understanding of what it takes to move a construction project from planning to execution.

Beyond the technical skills, Viozzi says the mentorship has been the most valuable part of the experience.

"The support I've had here with Italo is unmatched," he says. "His commitment to helping young people learn and grow in the industry has really stood out to me. Having someone willing to invest that much time in helping me develop as a young construction professional has been incredibly valuable."

Kelly Byrne '27, psychology

Internship: Fox News in New York City

Psychology major and Division I swimmer Kelly Byrne '27 brought the discipline and preparation she developed as a student-athlete to her summer internship with Fox News in New York City. Photo by James T. Giffen, Marketing & Communications

When psychology major Kelly Byrne '27 began her summer internship at Fox News in New York City, she relied on skills she had spent years developing — not just in the classroom, but in the pool. As a Division I swimmer, Byrne learned the value of preparation, discipline and time management, lessons that helped her navigate the fast-paced media industry.

Byrne's path to Fox began with the Bucknell network. Through the Bucknell University Alumni Board's mentorship program, she connected with alumni who helped her build relationships in the media industry and ultimately find an opportunity with Fox's research team. There, she analyzed audience data to support teams across the company, including ad sales, programming and public relations.

One of her biggest projects was developing a presentation pitching a well-known national restaurant brand as a potential Fox advertiser. Presenting her team's research and recommendations to Fox employees gave Byrne the chance to put her preparation into practice — just as she had done countless times before at swim meets.

"Swimming taught me that practice has value because it prepares you for the moment when it matters," says Byrne, who is from Mount Kisco, N.Y. "I spent so much time practicing and rehearsing my presentation in the same way. I wanted to make sure I was ready."

That preparation paid off, earning positive feedback from the Fox team and reinforcing the confidence Byrne had built through years of competition.

"I came in not knowing much about research, so the first few weeks were really about learning," she says. "Now I have this valuable experience that I can translate into a career, which is really exciting."

Max Quan '27, business analytics

Internship: Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms in Washington, D.C.

Max Quan '27 (center) connected with Jack Hoadley '72 (right) and David Hamill '81 (left) in Washington, D.C., where alumni mentorship and the David R. Hamill '81 Washington, D.C., Experience internship program supported his summer exploration of health policy and law. Photo by Sam Levitan Photography

Before arriving in Washington, D.C., in May 2026, Max Quan '27 thought he had a pretty clear picture of what a legal career looked like. A few weeks into his internship, that vision expanded.

Through Bucknell's new David R. Hamill '81 Washington, D.C., Experience internship program — which provides students with housing and financial support to pursue summer opportunities in Washington, D.C. — the business analytics major from Cheshire, Conn., worked at Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms. 

There, he analyzed health insurance rate filings and researched how the No Surprises Act, a federal law protecting patients from unexpected medical bills, is shaping health care costs and coverage. His work culminated in policy blogs published under his name.

"It's completely opened up the possibilities," says Quan, a business analytics major in the Freeman College of Management. "Before, I thought law school meant working at a litigation firm. Now I've seen this whole policy side. I see how a law degree can be applied in so many ways."

The David Hamill Experience supported four Bucknell students this summer, and also covered the cost of enrolling Quan in a health policy course at American University.

The experience also connected Quan with Bucknell's strong alumni network in Washington. He was mentored by Jack Hoadley '72, a health policy analyst and researcher at Georgetown, who has shared his expertise, reviewed Quan's work and introduced him to other Bucknellians across the city. These connections have led to conversations about law school, careers in public policy and life in Washington.

"The Bucknell network here has been super helpful," Quan says. "People have completely opened themselves up to networking and helping me out. I'm getting such great advice on law school and careers in public policy."

Quan says Bucknell prepared him well for the role, particularly through writing-intensive coursework that gave him the confidence to tackle professional policy research, analysis and communication.