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
Madison Academy advances in baseball playoffs
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
MIKE EASTERLING 
May 1, 2026
MADISON – Freshman Chase Harris-Lambert set the tone for the pitching staff with six-plus innings in the first game, sophomore reliever Drew Holder sh...
Bob Jones falls in girls soccer; area softball starts
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
MIKE EASTERLING 
May 1, 2026
MADISON – Bob Jones was shut out 4-0 by Oak Mountain in a second-round game of the Class 7A girls playoffs Thursday. The Lady Eagles improved to 23-1-...
Mustangs, Jets host as baseball playoffs unfold
Madison County Record, News, Schools, ...
MIKE EASTERLING 
April 29, 2026
MADISON — James Clemens is preparing to host its first state baseball playoff series in four years when Hewitt-Trussville comes calling this weekend f...
“Exciting time on County Line” – Jets wins baseball Class 7A Area 8 title
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Bob Labbe 
April 29, 2026
MADISON - “Exciting time for folks on County Line.” Those words came freely from Johnny Johnson as head coach of the James Clemens baseball team which...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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