2026 Interns Wrap Up Summer of Learning
More than 70 interns representing over 50 colleges and universities across the country joined Ames teams in the field and office this summer. Throughout the season, interns gained valuable experience, learned from mentors, and contributed to projects throughout the company.
Highlighting the Internship Experience
This year's intern class contributed across a wide range of projects, departments, and regions. Whether working in the field or office, interns developed new skills, built professional relationships, and gained exposure to the many career paths available within the construction industry.
The program concluded with presentations in every region, giving interns the opportunity to share their accomplishments, key takeaways, and experiences with company leaders, mentors, and fellow interns.
Putting Summer Lessons to the Test
Another experience our Central and Eastern regions shared was Ames Games, where company interns, federal interns, and apprentices come together for a day of friendly competition, teamwork, and interactive learning. This year marked the fourth annual for Central and the first ever for Eastern.
The event puts participants' summer experiences to the test with challenges that reflect the many disciplines that contribute to successful projects. Activities include surveying challenges, engineering and estimating exercises, legal and risk management scenarios, welding competitions, excavator simulations, concrete mold making, and heavy equipment challenges.
Competing in an Olympic-style format, participants worked together to solve problems, showcase their skills, and gain exposure to areas of the construction industry they may not interact with every day.
Ames Games Results
Central Office
🥇 Gold Medal Team: Ames Avengers
Team Members: Thomas Flaherty, Gavin Oehlerts, Philip Walker, Coralee Huddle, Mia Miller
Mentor: Bolton Webster
🥈 Silver Medal Team: Pier Pressure
Team Members: Courtney Rook, Calvin Geselle, Ethan Dvorak, Matthew Wilson, Clifton Joiner
Mentors: Nate Menge & Tony Ferguson
🥉 Bronze Medal Team: Locked In
Team Members: Isaiah Hinty, Jacob Johnson, Winona Crazy Thunder, Abbigale Fulwider, Mary Colvin
Mentor: Nick Hyson
Eastern Office
🥇 Gold Medal Team
Team Members: Caysun Kinghorn, Parker Ellis
Mentor: Deacon Finkenbiner
🥈 Silver Medal Team
Team Members: Logan Lipp-Erickson, Ryan Kelly
Mentor: Trenton Riehl
🥉 Bronze Medal Team
Team Members: Sean Willson, Shaun McLaughlin
Mentor: Abel Girma
Thank you to our interns and apprentices for their hard work and dedication this summer. We also extend thanks to the mentors, coworkers, and project teams who invested their time in helping shape the next generation of industry professionals.
