Don Riblet is a senior majoring in Building Construction within the Myers – Lawson School of Construction. This past summer he interned with Kiewit. WayUp, a website for college students and recent grads seeking jobs and internships, listed Kiewit as one of the top 100 places to intern. Don spent his time with Kiewit working in the Underground District. They have been a leader within the tunneling industry for over 50 years. Their projects focus on transportation, environmental facilities, power, mining, bridges and telecommunications.
Q: What are some of the interesting things you were able to see/do while on the job?
Riblet: I worked in two underground decline tunnels in Omaha, Nebraska. I got to work with the tunnel backfill crew that was tasked with placing a grout backfill behind the tunnels final lining (erected steel sets).
Q: What are some of the biggest things you learned during your internship?
Riblet: How different aspects of work can change daily and you have to be able to adjust to still get the work done on time and safely. A huge aspect of field internships is the knowledge you gain from interacting with the craft. If you can interact with the craft in a positive way, it makes coming to work fun and productive. It is important to learn from your co-workers because chances are they have been doing it a lot longer than you have and they know the little tips and tricks that make getting the work done easier.
Q: How did being a MLSoC student prepare you for this internship?
Riblet: MLSoC gave me a lot of practical knowledge for the industry. The curriculum has a great balance of technical knowledge as well as practical knowledge that makes the transition to field work that much easier.
