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Students
are hired from a variety of majors and study programs,
from chemistry to mechanical engineering and materials
science. They experience working alongside full-time professionals
on major research programs. |
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CRG’s internship program has proven to
be a win-win arrangement for both the company and the students.
College and university students develop job skills and expertise
before they graduate, and the company benefits from their
energy, intellect, creativity and willingness. In fact, several
students and former students have been responsible for a few
research and process technology breakthroughs.
Corporate Culture
CRG’s corporate culture creates a climate of “accelerated
experience” for its Research Associates (co-op students).
The co-ops work alongside full-time professional staff on
hands-on projects for both government and commercial customers.
This accelerated work experience gives college student graduate-level
challenges and real-world work experience while undergraduates.
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Ohio
former Governor Bob Taft visited CRG in September 2006
to promote the Ohio Third Frontier internship program.
He spoke with many of CRG's interns that day. According
to Governor Taft, CRG is a great example of the win-win
situation resulting from companies hiring college interns
and co-ops. |
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Experience a CRG Co-op/Internship:
- Team-oriented atmosphere
- Freedom to be creative and take risks
- Unique, fun-loving culture
- Hands-on experience
- Competitive pay
- Active mentoring from professional staff
- Fast-paced work environment
- Responsibilities usually assigned to
college graduates
- “Real world” work experience
- Development of skills essential to future
career
- Solving difficult challenges on a regular
basis
Ohio Third Frontier
CRG was able to broaden and enhance its internship program
through the Ohio Third Frontier initiative, a program offering
subsidies for companies employing college interns in high-tech
fields.
Kinds of Internships
The company employs many interns from area universities and
colleges in disciplines ranging from engineering, chemistry,
materials science, optics, physics, legal, graphics, and business.
Along with active mentoring, these students are given responsibilities
that would usually only be assigned after a degree is earned.
In this way, students at CRG are able to obtain real-world
work experience and develop skills essential for their future
careers.
Preparation for Careers
Many current full-timers at CRG started out at the company
as student interns. Prior interns now serve in capacities
such as director of business development, group and division
managers, research engineers, patent attorney, graphic designers,
and business associates. Experience has demonstrated a tremendous
pay-off from investing in top-notch college students while
they are still in school. By the time they graduate, these
interns demonstrate a high level of practical workplace and
technological expertise, maturity and self-confidence in project
management, and entrepreneurial initiative.
Housing
For out-of-town students, CRG has established a reasonably
priced co-op housing option.
Comments and quotes:
“The best part about CRG’s
internship program is the whole experience. Interns working
for CRG obtain valuable real-world engineering experience
while becoming a part of a unique company culture.”
~Brandon Kirby, senior at Wright State University, majoring
in Mechanical Engineering
“Working together with engineers
and scientists at CRG in a team-oriented approach has allowed
me to take on distinct responsibilities and has helped promote
my leadership skills on a daily basis. I have been exposed
to the challenges of transitioning products and materials
into a manufacturing environment, and this is my favorite
part of my co-op experience. I enjoy combining innovative
thinking and foresight in a manufacturing environment to prevent
failures before they happen. Overall, my experience at CRG
has allowed me to take responsibility and initiative to improve
my technical, professional, and leadership skills and has
reinforced my career choice in chemical engineering.”
~Kevin Heitkamp, senior at the University
of Dayton majoring in Chemical Engineering
“The internship program at
CRG is a great chance for engineers to mentor students and
help them learn new things and ways of doing business. I enjoy
working with the students here because they bring a lot of
energy and drive to the table and that makes the company an
exciting and fun place to work.”
~Ben Dietsch, Manager, Systems Engineering Division, former
student intern
“[When I was an intern,] I learned the
hands-on skills needed to work in an engineering lab, I led
my own research efforts in a program that I had put together,
and I had the opportunity to present that work at two conferences,
including the SAMPE convention in Long Beach, CA. That’s
a list that would rival another engineer’s that had
been in the work force for 5 years, but here at CRG it's commonplace.”
~Scott Huelskamp, Research Engineer, former student intern
“Through my roles as both support and
lead on a variety of projects I was able to develop leadership
qualities including, lead by example and lead by following,
both of which are critical skills for technical and non-technical
success both at work and in life.”
~Thomas Margraf, Research Engineer, former student intern
“I greatly enjoy working at CRG. As a
student, I felt challenged and felt that my work is an asset
to the company.”
~Thomas Barnell, Research Engineer, former student intern
“I especially enjoy working with the young people.
Watching them grow professionally and accomplishing things
they never would have thought possible a few years earlier
bring me great joy."
~Patrick Hood, President
“From the company's very beginning, research
associates (interns) have been core to our company's success.
Their enthusiasm and fresh ideas beautifully complement the
experience and depth of the professional engineers and scientists
who supervise them. The mix of half-college student, half-professional
staff drives innovation for our customers at a phenomenal
pace — one that a team made up of just one type or the
other wouldn't achieve.”
~Stephen Vining, Director of Government Programs
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