This summer, two Rockford interns had a unique experience: building directly on their own college campuses. For Jack Drummond and Elijah Mosley, the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world construction projects where they study was both meaningful and motivating.
Jack Drummond – Northern Michigan University
Jack Drummond is a construction management student at Northern Michigan University (NMU) and is set to graduate in Spring 2026. This summer, he stepped into an especially rewarding role: interning on Rockford’s renovation of Harden Hall, a building he passes by daily as a student.
Rockford is currently undertaking a major renovation of NMU’s Lydia M. Olson Library within Harden Hall. This 95,000 sq. ft. project includes the creation of new faculty offices, student study spaces and flexible common areas, along with a fourth-floor addition and a new grand entry staircase. The work involves selective demolition of the main entry and upper floors, a new curtainwall entry, structural modifications, mechanical upgrades, improved lighting and finishes and aesthetic enhancements throughout the building.
Learn more about this project here.
For Drummond, being on his own campus made the experience even more impactful. “It was an absolute dream being able to work on my own campus,” Drummond said. “I loved being able to go back to the project between classes or on my own time.” The internship allowed him to see his classroom knowledge come to life, connecting his education directly with his future career.
From project coordination to observing large-scale construction processes, the summer was a hands-on learning experience from start to finish. Now back on campus for the fall semester, Drummond reflects on his internship with gratitude and encourages other students to pursue similar opportunities.
“Not only did this experience strengthen my connection with my school, but it strengthened my connection with the community,” Drummond shared. “Learning from the yooper tradespeople gave me a tremendous insight into the incredible hard work they perform day-in and day-out, broadening my horizon. This is something that will stick with me.”
Elijah Mosley – Ferris State University
Elijah Mosley, a project management student at Ferris State University (FSU), is no stranger to Rockford internships. He returned to Rockford this summer for a second internship and gained hands-on experience with a project close to home: the new Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery on FSU’s campus.
Rockford has partnered with FSU on this 26,000 sq. ft. facility, which expands the museum’s ability to share the story of the African American experience from the Jim Crow era into the present day. The facility will house more than 14,000 artifacts in an expanded exhibition space featuring climate-controlled storage and archives, research and reading rooms, staff offices and visitor reflection areas, empowering the museum to educate, preserve and inspire.
Learn more about this project here.
Mosley chose to return to Rockford because of the mentorship and growth opportunities he experienced last year. “Every day I learned something new in the field, in meetings and while performing a PE role with guidance from my superintendents,” Mosley said. His first internship gave him confidence in submitting RFIs, managing submittals and reading blueprints — a foundation he built upon this summer.
This time, Mosley dove deeper into the responsibilities of a project engineer, working closely with his superintendents. “My superintendents helped me understand the key processes of a construction site. We would walk around site to compare drawings to the actual jobsite, I created RFIs and helped research concrete and they took time to answer my questions,” Mosley said. “My experience with the team was amazing and I was able to get my hands dirty to help the team move forward with this project.” By the end of the summer, he had gained practical skills in project coordination, problem-solving and onsite decision-making, all while making a meaningful contribution to his campus.
“It gave me a feeling of pride and service to be part of a project that will continue to express how awesome Ferris State University is,” Mosley said of his experience. “Being a student on campus allowed me to appreciate the hard work that the campus has put forth and watching both Ferris and Rockford come together to develop and build for the community kept me driven.”
Mosley carries these lessons with him into his classes this school year and encourages peers to seek out similar experiences. “Rockford truly cares for their interns and the full-time employees and that’s why so many students strive to be part of the Rockford community.”
Why Rockford Internships Matter
For both Drummond and Mosley, Rockford provided more than just summer jobs; it offered the opportunity to connect their studies with real-world impact, often right on their own campuses. Their experiences show how construction internships can be transformative, offering mentorship, hands-on learning and a front-row seat to shaping spaces that matter to their communities.
At Rockford, our internship program is designed to give students the tools, confidence and connections they need to launch successful careers in construction. Whether it’s your first summer in the field or a return to build on past experiences, there’s always something new to learn — and meaningful projects waiting for your contribution.
