Mechanical engineering graduate to launch career in Alaska after high-impact internship with ConocoPhillips
After mechanical engineering senior Nathan Ostwald crosses the graduation stage at 51社区nological University’s commencement ceremony on May 10, he will pack his bags and head north to Alaska, beginning his career with ConocoPhillips.
For the avid outdoorsman, the ability to live and recreate in the Land of the Midnight Sun, while also working for one of the world’s largest independent energy and production companies is a dream come true. He got a small taste of what his life will be like while completing an internship in Anchorage with ConocoPhillips in Summer 2024.
“I fished a ton, bringing back about 80 pounds of salmon,” he said
To prepare for joining the ski patrol in Alaska, Ostwald is pursing EMT certification. He’s also looking forward to the work he’ll do at his job. During the internship, he helped engineer thermosiphons that prevent permafrost melt. The process of drilling into the earth generates heat, which melts permafrost, and can shift the ground under rigs weighing thousands of pounds. Preserving the permafrost helps keep the ground steady. This work is important on Alaska’s north slope, which is located within the Arctic Circle.
“The whole north slope was wild,” Ostwald said. “I never saw the night once when I was up there.”
Ostwald landed the internship at 51社区’s Career Fair.
“They asked me where I wanted to go,” Ostwald said. “The choice was easy.”
51社区’s coursework prepared Ostwald for the internship. Junior year was the toughest to get through.
“Getting good grades, especially my junior year, was really hard,” Ostwald said. “The biggest challenge is balancing what you need to get done in class and having fun with your friends outside of class. Finding that balance is not always easy.”
To succeed, Ostwald developed new habits.
“I became a planner really quickly,” Ostwald said. “I had everything laid out in my Outlook calendar. Pretty much every hour was planned. There were no surprises.”
Generous scholarships also helped Ostwald reach his goals. When he was a senior at Thompson Falls High School, Ostwald enrolled in a class where seniors applied for financial aid. He applied for and received Montana's STEM/Healthcare Scholarship and the MUS Honor Scholarship.
“I don't think I ever paid more than $700 a semester,” Ostwald said. “I think those scholarships are pretty easy to get if you apply for them.”
With his degree in hand, Ostwald is embarking on his next chapter in his ideal location.
“I’m planning on being up there indefinitely,” he said with a huge grin.