Celebrating Benesch’s 2026 Summer Interns
After a summer of collaborating with project teams across the company, Benesch’s 2026 interns wrapped up the nine-week program by presenting their final projects and celebrating the conclusion of another successful internship season.
The internship program welcomed 92 students from colleges and universities across the country, providing opportunities to contribute to real projects, learn from experienced professionals and gain exposure to a variety of disciplines across the firm.
A Look Back at the Summer
Seeing a Project from Start to Finish
Working with Benesch’s Kansas Division, surveying intern Alex Heldt had the opportunity to follow a bridge project from its earliest stages, gaining experience with field surveying, site staking and property research. “I enjoyed getting to dive deep into a project,” Alex Said. “The hands-on experience made me feel like I was contributing to something meaningful while teaching me a new way to analyze the earth around us.”
Learning from the Team
Construction inspection intern Rinah Peterson spent the summer learning from engineers, inspectors and contractors while supporting Wisconsin’s I-41 project. Working closely with the project team gave her a broader understanding of road construction and the collaboration required to deliver successful projects. “Everyone I have worked with has been willing to answer questions and help me learn,” said Rinah. “I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside so many knowledgeable professionals.”
Learning to Adapt in the Field
For Hayden Biggs, no two days were the same. As a field intern in Overland Park, Kansas, he worked as a certified inspector on roadway improvements, calculated contractor quantities, assisted with surveying and shadowed project engineers to better understand construction management. “What I enjoyed most was being outside and experiencing how dynamic construction really is,” said Hayden. “I had to problem solve on the spot when things changed because of weather, traffic or unexpected field conditions.”
Seeing the Impact of Engineering
As a traffic and roadway engineering intern, Stephanie Ta gained hands-on experience collecting traffic data, creating fiber plan drawings and developing detour plans for active transportation projects. “One of the most valuable parts of this experience was seeing how my work contributed to projects that improve transportation systems and public safety,” said Stephanie.
Final Presentations
As part of the program, interns worked in teams on final projects to share their experiences and knowledge gained over the summer. On the last day, the groups presented their projects to Benesch leaders in a tournament-style competition, with the following teams earning top honors:
- 1st Place: Max Perry, Josh Liberman, Jackson Cummings, Fletcher Sidle, and Lilee Johnson
- 2nd Place (tie): Team 1 – Nicholas Stiglich, Zachary Arthur, Grace Kohler, Josh Lee, Maxwell Banning and Diego Salcedo; Team 2 – Sarah Livingood, Cali Melidis, Anthony Gonzalez, Koen Thomsen and Kaden Keller
- 3rd Place: Ben Toolan, Yahia Mezgour, Jackson Keele, Omar Sakr, Nate Martinez and Stephanie Ta
Annual Scholarship Recipients
We are also excited to recognize this year’s annual scholarship winners. As part of the application process, interns reflected on how their knowledge evolved throughout the summer and what they gained from the experience. Following a review of the submissions, 66 interns were selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Abigail Meyer – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Aidan Flanagan – Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Alex Heldt – University of Kansas
Alexander Alfred Aloysius Burian – Penn State Harrisburg
Ally Zendejas – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Amber Murphy – Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Andrew Shirkness – Pennsylvania State University
Anthony McWhinney – Pennsylvania State University
Anthony Navarrete Figueroa – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Anthony Rene Gonzalez – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Austin Oberle – University of Connecticut
Bailey Stearns – Oregon State University
Caitlyn Gregg – Oklahoma State University
Caleb Diaz – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Caliope Melidis – Loyola University Chicago
Cody Hunter – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dakota Jackson – Tarleton State University
David Huester – King’s College
Diego Alejandro Salazar Salcedo – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Elijah Fischer – Milwaukee School of Engineering
Emma Grey – University of Tennessee Knoxville
Fletcher Bardonner Sidle – University of Texas at Austin
Garrett Williams – Michigan Technological University
Grace Kohler – Missouri University of Science and Technology
Hayden Michael Biggs – Benedictine College
Hugo Santiago Guerrero-Sarabia – University of North Florida
Jack Pirwitz – University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Jackson Keele – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jackson Thaddeus Cummings – University of Tennessee Knoxville
Jane Zureikat – Wayne State University
Joel Mark Buettner – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
John Morgan Thomas IV – Tennessee Technological University
Joshua Liberman – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Justin Witcofski – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kaden Keller – Southern Methodist University
Kaitlyn Munoz – Colorado School of Mines
Kevin Merritt Akins – Milwaukee School of Engineering
Lila Mock – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lilee Johnson – University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Omaha Campus)
Makyla Gore – Kansas State University
Maxwell Banning – University of Connecticut
Miguel Ramos – Kansas State University
Nathaniel Martinez – California State University, Chico
Nicholas Brycen Geister – Michigan Technological University
Nicholas Marrone – University of Florida
Omar Mohamed Sakr – Drexel University
Ophelia Tchounkeu – University of Illinois at Chicago
Payton Paulsen – University of Iowa
Peyton Groody – Juniata College
Rachel Lannin – Iowa State University
Rafal Gal – University of Illinois at Chicago
Rayan Belkhaouda – Western Michigan University
Rinah Peterson – University of Wisconsin – Madison
Ruby Cooper – Texas A&M University
Ryan Perry – Michigan Technological University
Samuel Adam Kerbo – University of Florida
Sarah Dyk – Liberty University
Sarah Herman – West Virginia University
Stephanie Ta – University of Missouri – Kansas City
Tiffany Torres-Ortiz – University of North Florida
Valentina Rodriguez – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Vicki Ma – Lehigh University
Wesley Michael Gilbert – The University of Alabama
Yahia Mezgour – University of Colorado Denver
Zachary Andrew Gauthier – University of Nebraska-Omaha
Zachary Anthony Arthur – University of Colorado – Boulder
Click here to learn more about our intern program and follow Benesch on LinkedIn for continued updates and related news.
