Industry pros mentor engineering interns from Bob Jones
Enrolled in the engineering internship class, senior Jordan Jackson at Bob Jones High School designed and 3D-printed a payload delivery system to attach to a drone. CONTRIBUTED
Bob Jones High School, Madison, Madison County Record, News, Schools, Z - News Main
 By  GreggParker Published 
3:51 pm Thursday, December 17, 2020

Industry pros mentor engineering interns from Bob Jones

MADISON – Industry professionals mentored Bob Jones High School seniors during their internship assignments to local companies and manufacturers.

The engineering interns completed 12 weeks with local employers. Designated employees at host companies helped students, who engaged in real-world work experience, tours and shadowing.

“I am so proud of our Fall 2020 Senior Design Internship Class students,” Jessye Gaines said. “The amount of flexibility, creativity, maturity and independence they have demonstrated this semester has been spectacular.” Gaines is Director of Bob Jones Engineering Academy.

Bob Jones Internship Class completed virtual training with career coach Carla Cobb. This semester, Cobb specialized her training in interview etiquette during virtual exchange.

Seniors delivered their final presentations on Dec. 15-16 live via the WebEx platform:

Clayton Sanders studied concussion diagnosis and detection systems with mentor Kris Kasprzak at Siemens. Jonathan Byers developed scheduling skills for Amazon Echo Dot by using Alexa Developer Console with mentor Steve Mays at SAIC.

At Engineering Research & Consulting or ERC, expert Joe McKenzie assisted senior Scott Reid in modular desk design and building. Student Quinn Burgess explored vehicle interior optimization with Tara RuthAnn Sprinkle at Combat Capabilities Development Command with the U.S. Army.

Jake Palenapa designed a rocket nozzle with guidance from Chris Brown at Missile Defense Agency. Jay Dickerson designed, CAD-modeled, 3D-printed and launched a model rocket system with NASA expert Erick Ordonez.

For his project, Joe Palenapa created and constructed a remote-controlled glider with mentor Kyle Groundwater at Crossflow Technologies. John Digges experimented with rocket cost efficiency with NASA professional David Teare.

Andrew Girgis re-designed a helicopter rotor blade with support from Paul Lambertson at The Boeing Company. Jordan Jackson CAD-modeled and 3D-printed a drone payload attachment, guided by Rhonda Fykes at Northrop Grumman.

Nick Owen modernized the Nissan 240SX with advice from Andrea Alexander with Ford Motors. Easten Phillips experimented with automated farming with help from Amarie Whetten at Raytheon Technologies.

Sam Glover worked at building a mechanical arm with Charles Moore at Raytheon Technologies. Josh Merritt designed and built a hovercraft, guided by Patrick Roesner at Boeing.

Dwight Ware automated a compost bin with assistance from Jeromy Lambert with Ascend Performance Materials. Stephen Mays 3D-printed a prosthetic hand with SAIC expert Nicholas Whiting. Katrina Pedrahas designed a dog-care robot with NASA tutor Mark Krome.

Also on The Madison Record
Republican Women of Madison host Senate Candidate Forum
Madison, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
April 9, 2026
MADISON – The Republican Women of Madison organization will collaborate with related clubs to host the North Alabama U.S. Senate Candidate Forum on Ap...
Big innings lift Trash Pandas to Easter win, first series victory
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Play Ball
Staff Reports 
April 8, 2026
MADISON - The Rocket City Trash Pandas (2-1) continued their high-powered offensive start to the season with a 9–8 win on Easter Sunday, clinching the...
High school students can apply to serve on Mayor’s Youth Council
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
Gregg Parker 
April 8, 2026
MADISON – A new group will allow young people to learn directly about municipal government in the City of Madison. The city has opened applications fo...
CVB offers walking tours of downtown Madison in April
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Downtown Madison
Staff Reports 
April 8, 2026
MADISON - The Huntsville- Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s spring history walking tours return this April to historic downtown Madison....
Kylie Zou at Journey Middle School qualifies for MATHCOUNT’s national tourney
Madison, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
April 8, 2026
MADISON – In state-level MATHCOUNTS competition on March 21, Kylie Zou placed in the top four individual scores (at second place). With this achieveme...
Excitement heralds in new Trash Pandas season
b-Sports, Madison County Record, News, ...
Bob Labbe 
April 8, 2026
MADISON - The 2026 baseball season is underway with the Rocket City Trash Pandas battling through its season- opening weekend and now set to return ne...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *