Building the Future: Meet the Interns Shaping Their Careers at Graham

At Graham, internships provide students with the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and into real-world business environments. By working alongside experienced professionals, interns gain valuable industry exposure, take on meaningful responsibilities, and contribute to projects that support the company’s goals.

Across marketing, engineering, industrial design, and automation, this year’s interns have embraced new challenges, expanded their knowledge, and explored potential career paths while making an impact across the organization.

Discovering a Passion for Marketing

Temiah Dixon, a marketing Intern and upcoming senior at Harrisburg University, has gained hands-on experience in professional marketing and communications while supporting initiatives across Graham. Working closely with the communications team, she has helped create content for internal and external channels, develop marketing materials, and contribute to employee engagement efforts.

One of her most rewarding experiences was leading a Father’s Day employee spotlight project from start to finish—coordinating interviews, conducting conversations, writing the story, and scheduling its publication. This strengthened her confidence and showcased her ability to manage projects.

Throughout her internship, she credits her supervisors for their guidance, regular check-ins, and commitment to helping her understand both the business and the impact of effective communication. Reflecting on her experience, Dixon says the internship solidified her passion for marketing while preparing her for a successful career in the field.

Growing as an Engineer

For Adeline Brooks, a mechanical engineering student at Temple University and Project Engineering Intern, the internship exceeded expectations from the start.

Working on multiple projects simultaneously, she gained exposure to research, vendor communications, and technical problem-solving. A standout moment came during a Family Day event at the Graham Technical Center, where she demonstrated equipment that she recently learned to operate, receiving positive feedback for her performance.

As someone who previously found public speaking intimidating, Brooks noted that the experience significantly improved her presentation skills and confidence. She credits much of her growth to her manager and mentor, Lorena Garza, whose leadership and work ethic have helped shape the engineer she hopes to become.

Learning the Business of Design

For Oscar Gress, an industrial design from the University of Cincinnati, the internship opened his eyes to the complexity and impact of packaging design.

Initially expecting to work primarily on simple stock bottle designs, he quickly discovered the wide variety of projects Graham supports. Throughout the summer, he contributed to designs across multiple industries, including food and beverage, laundry, and automotive packaging.

His greatest achievement wasn’t a particular project but rather the self-assurance he developed as a designer. Completing his first major project helped him recognize his ability to contribute effectively in a professional environment and prepared him for future opportunities in the design field.

Gress also highlighted the collaborative culture at Graham, noting that the design team made him feel like a valued member from day one.

Hands-On with Automation

Evan Aggelis, an electrical engineering intern from Penn College, was drawn to Graham because of his interest in plastics manufacturing and automation. What began as an opportunity to learn more about blow molding equipment quickly became an immersive experience working alongside the automation team on both hardware and software projects.

Throughout his internship, Aggelis supported control builds, software setups, machine retrofits, and troubleshooting efforts at Graham facilities across the country. One of his most memorable experiences was working on retrofit projects, where he helped rebuild machine control systems to bring them back to an operable state. These hands-on experiences deepened his understanding of how Graham’s equipment functions both mechanically and electrically.

Aggelis noted that his teammates helped shape his experience by taking the time to explain complex concepts and trusting him to apply what he had learned. As a result, he has strengthened his problem-solving skills and learned the importance of thorough documentation in engineering projects.

Building Confidence Through Experience

While each intern’s experience was unique, common themes emerged across all four stories: professional growth, meaningful work, supportive mentorship, and increased confidence. Their experiences demonstrate the value of hands-on learning and the important role interns play across the organization.

As Graham continues investing in future talent, these programs remain an important pathway for students to explore careers and make lasting contributions.