Wrapping up with P1 Summer Interns

It’s hard to believe how quickly the summer flew by! Our interns packed a lot into just a few short months, diving into hands-on learning, exploring jobsites, meeting industry partners, and making connections across P1. These are just a few of the experiences that gave them a new perspective on the work we do, creating memories along the way.

These were just a few of the events our interns experienced.

McCownGordon Jobsite Visit: Seeing a project in action brought classroom concepts to life. During their jobsite visit, interns walked the site, asked questions, and experienced firsthand how planning, coordination, and teamwork come together to keep a project moving forward.

P1 Fabrication Shops Tour: A tour of the P1 sheet metal, millwright, pipe, electrical and plumbing fabrication shops gave P1 and McCownGordon interns a behind-the-scenes look at where many projects begin. They saw the craftsmanship, technology, and attention to detail that go into fabricating components, and got to create a few of their own!

Midwest Machinery/SPX Cooling Visit: The interns kicked off one of their field experiences with a visit to Midwest Machinery/SPX Cooling, where they got an up-close look at the manufacturing process and learned how the equipment they see in the field comes to life.

Golf Outing: Whether they were seasoned golfers or picking up a club for the first time, the annual golf outing gave interns the chance to network, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with coworkers in a relaxed setting.

Gameshow Battle: Learning isn’t always in the office! During the Gameshow Battle, interns put their teamwork, communication, and competitive spirit to the test. There were plenty of laughs, a little friendly competition, and a lot of team bonding with fellow interns and P1 mentors.

St. Luke’s Health System Tour: Hosted by P1 Project Manager Dave Becerra, P1 interns had the opportunity to see the internal workings of low-voltage electrical operations at Saint Luke’s East Hospital. P1 Electrical Foreman Chase Mikessell gave the tour, starting with the tunnel system that runs under the hospital. The group then visited the building that houses the data center for the hospital. The afternoon was topped off with a walk through of the renovation that is in progress on the 5th floor of the hospital, which will be a state of the art oncology treatment center upon completion.

We asked them what they thought of the experience, and here is what some of them shared.

Betty Rogers, Mechanical Project Intern

“My favorite part of the internship has been the people. It has been great to meet different people from the office and learn more about what they do. My advice to future interns is to go to the intern events, meet new people, and talk to the full-time employees. Everyone here has such great insights and it’s great to hear those.”

Stella Scoggin, Marketing Intern

“My favorite part of the internship was getting to work on the company newsletter and create graphics for flyers. It’s been very rewarding to see my hard work being shared across the company. One thing I’ve learned is that marketing doesn’t just support the company externally, it also helps celebrate employees, share their stories, and creates a stronger sense of community within the company. My advice to future interns is to go to every intern event. It can feel intimidating when you don’t know anyone, but those events are where you’ll build relationships and make connections.”

Spencer Schmalz, Safety Intern

“My favorite part of my internship has been applying the knowledge and skills I gained in the classroom to a real-world safety position. In class, I learned about safety standards, regulatory requirements, safety methodologies, and various types of safety analyses. Being able to apply this knowledge in a professional setting has strengthened my skills, deepened my understanding, and given me a better overall perspective of what it means to work in a safety role. The safety department at P1 has done an excellent job giving me exposure to a variety of job sites, meetings, and safety documentation. I think the best way to sum up what I’ve learned is that safety is customer service, not policing. After working in the construction field, I’ve realized there are so many different variables and specialties involved that I think I’ll only scratch the surface of the knowledge each trade requires throughout my safety career.”

Dillan Emch, Mechanical Project Intern

“Coming back to P1 for a second summer internship has been my favorite part because I was able to build on everything I learned last year. This summer, being part of a large data center project allowed me to see how a project of this size is coordinated, planned, and executed. The biggest takeaway from this internship has been learning how important communication and teamwork are on a large construction project. That helped me understand that technical knowledge is only part of the job. Building relationships, communicating clearly, and staying organized are just as important to delivering a successful project. My advice to future interns is: Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t understand something. Those moments usually lead to the biggest learning opportunities.”

Aidan Janatello, Electrical Project Intern

“I interned with the electrical division at P1’s Lawrence office. My favorite part was helping develop the CupixWorks system at the University of Kansas football stadium project. CupixWorks is a reality 360 camera capture program that will help with documentation of the project through its progressing phases. I was able to help with the foundational steps to start utilizing this technology. This internship gave me firsthand insight into how a top-tier specialty subcontractor operates. I would advise next year’s interns to try tackling a task on their own before asking questions. And when you do need help, the people at P1 are open and ready to answer, which is reassuring when taking on a challenge.”

Spencer Straub, Mechanical Project Intern

“My favorite part of my internship has been working out at the jobsite trailer for the Panasonic battery plant, with the ability to walk the site and see real-time progress. I also enjoyed all the lunch-and-learns and intern team-building events we went to this summer. While sitting in on meetings and speaking with the foreman, I learned a lot of construction terminology that I didn’t know before, and it’s rewarding to be able to participate in conversations. I would advise next year’s interns to talk to as many people as possible. P1 has a superior work culture when it comes to valuing motivated people, and these internships are a great way to build new relationships and start learning your specific interests.”

Reece Knox, Electrical Project Intern

“My favorite part of this internship has been seeing all the different parts inside of a job and talking to people about those parts. I learned a lot about how many parts and pieces electric power touches before it enters the building. The value of having this professional experience in the construction industry will be useful going forward. For future interns, I would say to be frequently vocal about what certain areas or tasks you’d like to do or experience.”

Lucy Funkhouser, Mechanical Project Intern

“My favorite part of the internship was getting out on the job site and seeing how everything comes together. I’ve enjoyed working with different trades, seeing equipment being installed, and getting to be involved in projects both in the office and field. Every day has been different, which has kept things interesting. Before this internship, I mostly thought mechanical work was just installing HVAC equipment and ductwork. I didn’t realize there was so much more involved, such as plumbing and piping work.”

Ryan Whittlesey, Mechanical Project Intern

“My favorite part of the internship was getting hands-on experience and seeing how projects come together from start to finish. It was rewarding to apply what I’ve learned in school to real-world situations. I learned that HVAC and mechanical systems involve much more than installing and repairing equipment. It requires problem-solving skills, teamwork, and attention to detail to make sure systems operate efficiently and safely.  This internship helped me build confidence in a professional work environment and improved my communication and technical skills. I’ll carry those experiences with me as I continue my education and begin my career. I would encourage next year’s interns to ask questions, stay engaged, and take every opportunity to learn from the people around them. Everyone has valuable experience to share, and being willing to learn makes the internship much more rewarding.”