EDWARDS, Ill. – The newest batch of college students interning at Caterpillar for the summer started their journey Monday.
Around 600 students took orientation at the Edwards Demonstration & Learning Center to begin the 12-week program.
Vice President of Global Talent Management Roshny Archer says the internship program is a vital tool Caterpillar uses to try and fill needs in the company.
“In an industry that is constantly hiring, our volume is quite up. Manufacturing is growing, it’s a thriving industry. So we’re pretty excited to welcome our greatest intern class ever,” Archer said.
Archer says this year’s students come from around 20 states, with Illinois, Purdue, and Texas A&M sending the most into the program. The most prominent majors are mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science.
Some of the interns have roots in the area, like Emma Ross. Ross is a graduate of Dunlap High School, and is currently studying marketing at the University of South Carolina.
“Caterpillar has always been around; going to the museum, riding tractors with my grandpa. It’s always been in the Peoria blood,” Ross said.
Ross is in the internship program for a second year. She is hoping to meet more people this time.
Ross’ advise to new interns is to ask many questions and try to learn as much as possible.
One of those new interns is Aryana Cook, who is studying business at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA.
It’s also the Indiana-native’s first time in the Peoria-area.
“Coming from Atlanta to Peoria, I was like ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ But I actually like it around here. The surrounding…everywhere I go, there’s literally Caterpillar, Caterpillar everywhere,” Cook said. “So I really like that environment to know that I’m part of something big.”
Cook says she’s hoping to learn more about e-commerce and website marketing strategies in her time with the internship program.
