Intern to Industry: How Students Grew During Kent’s 2025 Summer Program
The 2025 Kent Design Build Summer Internship brought four students into the heart of the construction industry for twelve weeks of hands-on experience, professional mentorship, and community-shaping projects. Moderated by Darby Frugé, Director of Project Management, the program connected interns with project managers, superintendents, and field crews, offering a clear picture of the culture, complexity, and opportunities that define the company’s work.
The summer culminated in capstone presentations where interns reflected on their learning, challenges, and career goals. For Frugé, the presentations were a powerful measure of success. “They exceeded expectations,” she said. “They dug deep, reached back to the earliest weeks of the program, and impressed me with their effort. They avoided the easy route and showed us they understood the bigger picture.”
Celebrating a summer of growth, dedication, and mentorship with the 2025 Kent Design Build interns. From left to right: Aubrey Posey, Drew Milton, Chase Homes, and Cole Casey.
Photo by Tim San Fillippo
Why Internships Matter
Internships are where classroom theory meets jobsite reality. Over the summer, students applied what they had learned in school, absorbed new skills from Kent professionals, and turned challenges into growth. Their presentations showed not only what they accomplished, but also how mentorship and real-world experience prepare the next generation of builders.
Frugé emphasized that the program shapes more than student experiences. It strengthens Kent Design Build’s future by creating a talent pipeline supported by project managers, superintendents, and field crews who invested their time in teaching and guiding. That commitment does more than make for a positive summer. It builds a foundation for Kent to continue delivering quality, innovation, and leadership in construction.
What the Interns Took Away
The heart of the internship program lies in what each student takes away—how classroom lessons transform when tested against the pace and complexity of real projects. This summer, every intern found new skills, sharper perspective, and a clearer sense of where they want to go next.
Cole Casey participated in Gulf South Metal Works’s first modular lift at the Laborde Warehouse project, where he saw the balance of safety, efficiency, and cost in action. Weekly field visits and estimating exercises helped him bridge classroom knowledge with practical application, sparking a new interest in the metal building sector.
Chase Homes discovered how shifting from finance to construction opened a new career path. Estimating projects showed him how accuracy and competitiveness drive success, while mentoring helped him build confidence in reading drawings and performing takeoffs. His presentation reinforced his decision to pursue project management.
Drew Milton, in his third summer with Kent, demonstrated how he grew from observer to problem solver. Three-week look-aheads with superintendents deepened his understanding of planning and execution, and his reflections showed how connecting classroom lessons to field realities built both competence and confidence.
Aubrey Posey, completing his third summer with Kent, described how exposure to construction technology, safety walks, and submittal reviews broadened his understanding of construction management. His presentation confirmed that the project manager role best fits his career path, giving him clarity and direction for the future.
Together, these experiences show how each intern gained something unique yet connected by the same theme: bridging theory with practice, building confidence, and finding clarity about their future in construction. Their reflections don’t just highlight individual growth. They underscore the value of mentorship, real-world exposure, and the opportunities Kent provides to shape tomorrow’s leaders in the industry.
Gratitude for the Team
Programs like this thrive because of the people who make them meaningful. Every project manager, superintendent, and field crew who welcomed students into the workday turned a summer job into a life-shaping experience.
As the 2025 program concludes, the capstone presentations underscore why this work matters. Kent Design Build isn’t only preparing the next generation of construction professionals. It is advancing its mission to build with purpose: developing people, strengthening communities, and shaping the future of the industry.
Apply for Kent Design Build’s 2026 Summer Internship
Every summer, Kent Design Build gives students more than a job—it’s about putting on the hard hat, stepping onto active job sites, and working side by side with industry professionals. Interns gain hands-on skills, explore career paths, and see how classroom lessons translate into real-world success.
If you’re ready to learn, grow, and build your future, click below to start your application.