Applied learning experiences prepare Christopher Towns and Nigel Maringwa to address industry challenges and enter the workforce

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The value of an engineering technology education becomes clearest when classroom knowledge is applied to an actual problem.

That connection between theory and practice defined the summer for Kentucky State University students Christopher Towns and Nigel Maringwa. Through internships in advanced manufacturing and public utilities, the Manufacturing Engineering Technology students gained technical experience, worked alongside industry professionals, and contributed to projects with real-world applications.

Internships are a high-impact educational practice and an important part of Kentucky State’s increasing emphasis on hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and career-connected experiences. They allow students to test their knowledge in professional settings, explore career pathways, and develop the skills employers expect.

Towns served as a manufacturing engineering intern with Rehrig Pacific in Orlando, Florida, contributing to automation and process-improvement projects.

His most significant assignment involved helping design and implement a radar-based inventory monitoring system that replaced manual silo measurements with real-time data. The project demonstrated how automation can improve the accuracy and efficiency of manufacturing operations.

“My biggest accomplishment was helping design and implement a radar-based inventory monitoring system that replaced manual silo measurements with real-time data,” Towns said.

Throughout the internship, Towns gained experience in industrial automation, robotics, electrical wiring, process optimization, and manufacturing operations. Working alongside industry professionals also strengthened his technical problem-solving skills and deepened his understanding of how engineering principles are applied in a modern manufacturing environment.

Maringwa completed his internship with the Frankfort Plant Board, gaining broad exposure to telecommunications, water treatment, and electric operations.

His work included assisting with water systems monitored through programmable logic controllers and supervisory control and data acquisition technology, reviewing substation schematics, and using GPS and ArcGIS Pro to map electric and telecommunications infrastructure. The mapping supported the utility’s broadband investment planning.

Maringwa also conducted water-quality testing at an 18-million-gallon-per-day treatment facility and received training in electric distribution safety protocols.

The internship extended beyond technical operations. Maringwa co-wrote scripts for the Frankfort Plant Board’s in-house television program, “Around10,” including its “World Cupdate” segment covering the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Maringwa said the importance of building professional relationships and adapting to an organization’s culture ranked among his most valuable lessons.

“Don’t stress too much about mistakes, ask questions often, and always aim to beat your deadlines,” he advised future interns.

The experiences reflect Kentucky State’s evolving academic model, which pairs a strong educational foundation with applied learning and workforce preparation. By working in professional environments where their knowledge has immediate value, students build experience, confidence, and a clearer understanding of their career opportunities.