Sweet! Trine electrical engineering student interns at Spangler Candy

BRYAN, Ohio — Coming out of her freshman year at Trine University, Julia Dickinson initially had a hard time finding a summer internship, but she was able to secure one in the sweetest place of all.

The electrical engineering major spent her summer surrounded by Dum-Dums, Marshmallow Circus Peanuts, Sweethearts and other delectable treats as an intern at Spangler Candy Company in Bryan, Ohio.

Persistence pays off

A resident of West Unity, Ohio, Julia was looking for an internship close to home.

She found only two manufacturers in the area that offered internships, but both required more experience than she had. She then interviewed with Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) for an internship at their Butler, Indiana, plant, but was not selected.

“I learned a lot from the interview. It was not like the generic tell me about yourself; I was tested on my knowledge of electrical symbols and problem-solving skills,” she recalled. “This showed me the competitiveness that companies are looking for, even just for interns.”

When Julia talked with her parents about not getting the SDI internship, her father remembered that Spangler offers an internship program that is not widely advertised.

“They want you to reach out to show your interest,” she said.

She was able to connect with Kyle McClellan, electrical engineer/project engineer at Spangler, and was eventually accepted as an intern.

Something new every day

Julia worked on three main projects during her internship: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) coding and human-machine interface (HMI) touchscreen design, drawing and revising electrical schematics, and learning the design and process of electrical panels, which she was then able to design.

She also assisted with needs from other departments, from scanning and printing user manuals to delivering candy from the plant to the Spangler Candy World store in town.

“I learned something new every day, which was one of my favorite parts,” she said.

In addition, she enjoyed the smell of candy — from blue raspberry Dum-Dums to Bit-O-Honey — and cheerful co-workers every day.

“Every time I walked on the floor, the smiles and waves I received from the workers were amazing,” she said. “Spangler changed my outlook on what factory work can look like.”

A high bar

Julia said she is thankful to Sameer Sharma, Ph.D., and Sean Carroll, Ph.D., professors in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, for encouraging her to apply for internships, and to the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for providing role models of females in engineering.

“I would also like to thank my boss Kyle McClellan, and the head of the engineering department at Spangler, David Sallows, for teaching me how to become a great electrical engineer and giving me a chance,” she said.

She said she would love to continue working in the candy industry but is looking forward to exploring other options when she attends the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) national conference in November.

“This internship definitely set the standard high for companies that I will investigate,” she said. “The community that Spangler built with its floor workers and support staff is something that I will carry with me when continuing my career.”