Welcome to our 2019 Summer Interns

For the past several years GeoStabilization has hosted summer interns in our highly competitive program. With an application process that is quite rigorous, our historical 5% acceptance rate means that getting into GeoStabilization International’s internship program is more competitive than being admitted to the freshman class at Harvard University. All internship positions are paid assignments that allow interns to travel to job sites across the continent to get a first-hand understanding of design-build geotechnical contracting. Our interns are designated a mentor who assigns them technical projects, monitors their progress, and gives them feedback on their efforts. While this year’s positions are filled, interested participants for future spots should contact our Chris Harris at 970-773-1661 or chris.harris@gsi.us for next year’s selection process.

GSI 2019 Interns
Shown left to right: Jenny Begley (Western KY University), Shelby Whitman (University of WY), Elizabeth “Mo” Hoeft (Iowa State), Kelvin Castillo (Prairie View A&M TX), Emma Braun (CO School of Mines), Marion Hall (Prairie View A&M TX), Dylan Finkbeiner (University of AR), April Vande Brake (University of Iowa), Dalton Pafford – MO S&T, Frank Torvik – SD School of Mines, Ian Gates (University of NH). Not Pictured Patrick Beville – Oregon State University

 

April Vande Drake April Vande Brake, originally from Orange City, Iowa, is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering with a focus in Structures, Mechanics, and Materials at the University of Iowa. In her spare time, April enjoys practicing yoga, playing sudoku, cuddling with her puppy, Lily, and spending time with family and friends.
Dalton Pafford  

Dalton Pafford, originally from Bowling Green, MO, is attending Missouri S&T and pursuing a degree in Geological Engineering with a focus in Geotechnics. Dalton completed a 7-month Geotechnical Engineering Co-op at NewFields Mining Design and Technical Services located in Elko, Nevada. While there he completed geotechnical field investigation activities including test pits, sonic drilling, and sample logging as well as several field and lab tests on soils, asphalt, and concrete. Dalton enjoys hiking, fishing, hunting, sports, and playing guitar.

 

Dylan Finkbeiner Dylan Finkbeiner, originally from Little Rock, AR, will be graduating in December 2019 with his undergraduate civil engineering degree from the University of Arkansas. Dylan worked in Boulder, CO for 4 years waiting tables and shoveling snow, while saving money to return to school. In his free time, Dylan enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, and cooking.
Emma Braun Emma Braun, originally from Aurora, Colorado, is currently in her last year at Colorado School of Mines, completing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with a geotechnical emphasis. Previously, Emma has interned at the White House where she analyzed casework focused on hardship issues and interacted with over fifty federal agencies. She additionally spent time in the Himalayas building trails between local towns and in Italy on an archeological dig site. In her spare time, Emma is often found glassblowing in the shop she manages, hiking one of Colorado’s many peaks, or attending yet another Rockies game.

 

Ian Gates  

Ian Gates, originally from Coon Rapids, MN, is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Geotechnical Engineering. Ian is beginning his masters at the University of New Hampshire while working on his thesis project. Ian is an alumni of Arkansas State University and has worked as an engineering intern for ARDOT and NHDOT. At ARDOT, Ian used GIS software to help create a landslide database that generated a map of current and recorded landslides in the state of Arkansas and assisted geotechnical engineers in calculations, field investigations, and geotechnical explorations. At NHDOT, Ian continued a research project for NHDOT over specialized pavements sections that evaluated the current life of roads. In his spare time, Ian enjoys hiking, skiing, fishing, traveling, playing and listening to music.

 

Kelvin Castillo Kelvin Castillo, originally from Santiago, Dominican Republic, is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering with two semesters remaining at Prairie View A&M University. Previously, he worked as a summer undergraduate research for Prairie View A&M University. While there, Kelvin Identified the benefits of floating offshore wind turbines and compared the productivity of energy between offshore and onshore wind turbines. President of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc., he is responsible for setting the direction and goals of the chapter, as well as the policy and leading initiatives. During his free time, Kelvin enjoys baseball, dancing, and spend time with his loved ones.

 

Patrick Beville  

Patrick Beville grew up as an Army brat and moved all over, so his original hometown is the United States. Patrick graduated high school in Newport News, VA and is entering his senior year at Oregon State University, studying Civil Engineering. Patrick joined the Army out of high school, serving as a Cavalry Scout for three years. Patrick has worked as a project engineer intern at Q & D Construction in Reno, NV, putting together bids, submitting RFI’s and submittals, and conducting site safety walks. Patrick enjoys whitewater kayaking, is a certified raft guide, rock climbing, and hiking.

 

Shelby Whitman Shelby Whitman is entering her senior year, pursuing her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming. She is also a project manager at her school’s Engineers Without Borders Student Chapter. In 2017, she interned with Envirocon where she learned about hazardous waste remediation on the shores of Lake Superior. She grew up in the town of Casper, Wyoming where she learned to love the outdoors. When not in school, she enjoys hiking, gardening and going to museums.
Marion Hall Marion Hall, originally from Tallahassee Florida but currently living in Prairie View Texas. Marion is entering his senior year at Prairie View A&M University, majoring in Civil Engineering with a minor in Construction Science. This is Marion’s first internship, but he has done research on water mitigation in the city of Houston. He enjoys basketball, reading, learning about history and hanging with friends.
Frank Torvik  

Frank Torvik, originally from Minneapolis, now calls Rapid City, SD home. Frank is attending SD School of Mines & Technology perusing a MS in Geological Engineering. Frank also has an undergraduate degree in Geological Engineering from SDSM&T. He interned with Peterson Contractors Inc, where Frank conducted tests on GEOPIER elements around the country. He also interned at Halliburton Energy Services as a wireline crew laborer at wells in the Bakken Oil Fields. As a research assistant for Dr. William Roggenthen at SDSM&T, Frank worked on the kISMET project, gathering sonic velocity and magnetic susceptibility data from core samples for research on Enhanced/Engineered Geothermal Systems. In his free time, Frank enjoys anything involving the outdoors.

Elizabeth “Mo” Hoeft  

Elizabeth “Mo” Hoeft, originally from Austin, TX is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering with Environmental emphasis at Iowa State University. Mo worked for the City of Ames as an Engineering intern during the summer of 2018, managing stormwater projects as well as community outreach programs. In her free time, Mo enjoys hiking, playing video games, spending time with her family and ceramics. Mo is also part of the Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society chapter at Iowa State.

 

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