Christopher DeDonato, an aerospace engineering major at 91²Ö¿â's College of Aeronautics and Engineering, completed his internship at , a company pioneering polymer-based Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM). The company produces large-scale 3D printed items up to 12 x 25 x 8 feet. Chris's role focused on documenting machine functionality and ensuring all equipment had accurate, up-to-date instructions to support smooth and repeatable operations.
"One of the highlights was learning to operate a Big Area Additive Manufacturing machine for the first time and seeing it successfully produce a large-scale 3D print," Chris reflects.
Through this experience, Chris developed strong communication skills, learned to manage timelines, and became more open-minded in his approach to problem-solving. He also gained crucial insight into the expectations of the aerospace industry, especially regarding housing and securing information and documents—knowledge that aligns with his career goal of working in the space industry with organizations like or .
The experience also provided valuable industry connections, as Center Street Technologies has ties to , which is well-established in the aerospace industry. Chris hopes this connection will allow him to connect with aerospace professionals in the near future.
"Your major doesn't always matter where you work or intern," Chris advises fellow students. "My self-motivation, work ethic, and basic understanding of engineering principles allowed me to land this industrial engineering internship despite being an aerospace major."
Looking back, Chris wishes he had paid more attention to his materials and processing class. "Knowing the materials and processing vocabulary could have helped me communicate more effectively with my team," he notes.
"Because of my internship, I can now explain to future employers the quality standards and relevant documentation required for the aerospace industry," Chris says.
Chris's willingness to step outside his comfort zone and embrace an opportunity in industrial engineering showcases what it means to "Dare Mighty Things." His story proves that the right internship can bridge the gap between academic preparation and career aspirations.
The College of Aeronautics and Engineering connects students with meaningful internship opportunities through industry partnerships and dedicated career support. To learn more about internship opportunities or to partner with CAE, contact Steven Nowinski, Employer Engagement and Internship Manager, at snowinsk@kent.edu or visit www.kent.edu/cae/careerservices.