The end of the summer at Hughes means saying goodbye to our group of talented interns. This year’s cohort of rising juniors and seniors truly embraced our goal of providing them with hands-on real-world experiences and the opportunity to grow professionally and personally.
Pursuing degrees in a variety of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, this year’s group of interns joined an array of Hughes teams, including mechanical engineering, consumer launch management, material engineering, satellite communications, service delivery, manufacturing, test engineering, network/systems engineering, marketing, network infrastructure, defense and government, procurement, and aviation.
Applying what they have learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios is a key element of our internship program. One intern—pursuing a degree in computer engineering—noted that her field of study has several specialties and areas of focus. She became interested in networking while in high school and was able to gain further exposure to it on a professional level while at Hughes. She said that “this internship has allowed me to see the ins and outs of networking systems, the behind-the-scenes action that goes into maintaining them, turning this into a path that I would genuinely consider choosing a career in.”
We strive to make each intern’s experience interesting and meaningful. They not only have the opportunity to shadow employees in their chosen fields, but are also integrated into cross-functional teams working on mission critical projects that have a real impact on the business. Another intern noted that his project—working on maintenance plans and procedures for test fixtures in our manufacturing facility—directly correlates to his studies of mechanical and materials engineering. He noted that the internship allowed him to “learn things that just can't be taught in a classroom.”
An additional element of a Hughes internship is the opportunity to network and engage with employees of all levels of the company. This year, Hughes interns were invited to join interns from our sister company, DISH, to hike Grays Peak in Colorado, reaching its 14,278-foot peak. Hiking a 14er—meaning one of the 96 mountain peaks in the US with an elevation of over 14,000 feet—alongside executives from across the companies provided a unique opportunity for networking.
We wish our 2024 group of innovators the best of luck for the semester ahead. We can’t wait to see what amazing things you achieve!