Private Industry Internships

Tucson Power Electric, energy company in Tucson

Mission: They deliver safe, reliable power to more than 417,000 customers in the Tucson metropolitan area. They're also a local leader in community service, volunteerism and economic development efforts.

Pedro Reynoso majored in Environmental Science with an emphasis on society and the environment.

I interned with Tucson Electric Power in their Environmental Services Department. Working with TEP was a great education experience. I assisted various programs under three main categories; air quality, water quality, and waste management. Throughout my internship I obtained an industry perspective of environmental regulations.

One of the best parts about interning with TEP is the dynamic nature of the internship. One day I might be putting together reports for regulatory agencies, and the next I may be out in the field acquing samples or disposing of hazardous wastes. I also appreciated the level of autonomy provided to the interns. When responsibilities were assigned, the intern is trusted by their colleagues to adequately complete the assigned work and meet deadlines.

Green Valley Pecan Company, family-run farm south of Tucson

Mission: As the world’s premier supplier of fresh pecans, Green Valley Pecan Company leads the industry in innovation on our farms. They control the entire process from planting to harvest, shelling to processing, enabling them to test and implement the latest equipment and processes.

Taylor Sanders majored in Sustainable Plant Systems with an emphasis on agronomy and a minor in Spanish.

I worked as an intern for Green Valley Pecan Company in Sahuarita, Arizona for my undergraduate internship. I collected soil, water, and leaf tissue samples to compile a complete nutrient analysis of the farm. I learned about the company’s innovative composting process, how organic farms track input costs and reporting, and how to not get a Mercury Grand Marquis stuck in the mud of a deceivingly wet pecan field.

Some of my daily activities included: slathering up with sunscreen/bug spray, walking through thousands of acres of pecan farmland to take samples, sending the samples to a lab in Phoenix then inputting those data results for analysis.

I finished the internship with a nutrient analysis document informing the farm operators where they were suffering the most with issues like salt and boron toxicity (which often leads to poor drainage and therefore wasted water).

Not only did I learn an immense amount of knowledge about farming and horticulture, but I left my internship feeling like I was a part of a nutty family.

Vulcan Materials Company, construction and mining company

Mission: Vulcan Materials Company is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates—primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel—and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials, including asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. Their coast-to-coast footprint and strategic distribution network align with and serve the nation’s growth centers. 

Tyler Christopher majored in Environmental Science with a minor in Business Administration.

I had the opportunity to shadow the senior environmental scientists of Vulcan. I was able to be a part of many different areas in the company, including conducting  environmental audits of mine sites, overseeing clean-fill landfill operations aimed to repurpose mining sites, improving stormwater pollution prevention plans as well as management and business practices.

My favorite part of this internship was the mobility and exposure; I was able to travel to many places to work with different people on environmental issues