Summer looks different for every college student. For some, it’s a break from classes. For others, it’s a chance to try something new, explore a career, or get a first glimpse of what life after college might look like.
This summer, five of our college scholars took those opportunities in very different directions. They took on internships, competed for scholarships, traveled for work, tackled real-world projects, and discovered a little more about themselves along the way.
Here’s a look at what Amari, Jamila, Yanfu, Jason, and Smilte were up to this summer.
Amari Alexander: Turning an Idea into a Winning Solution
For Clemson University student Amari Alexander, the summer brought an opportunity to compete for the Rev. Jesse Jackson Fellows Scholarship through PUSH Excel and Toyota. With $75,000 up for grabs, Amari, a semifinalist, traveled to Toyota’s headquarters in Texas to take part in a team challenge centered on solving a real-world problem. His team created Eco-Conscious Intelligence Nexus or ECIN, a web application designed to help Toyota employees use artificial intelligence more effectively and boost productivity. Amari’s team won the competition!
For Amari, the experience was about more than the result. It reinforced the value of asking questions, seeking out different perspectives, and learning from the people around him. Throughout the competition, his team spoke with Toyota employees, asked about their experiences with AI, and kept digging for information that could make their solution stronger.
It’s a lesson Amari plans to carry with him as he continues studying Automotive Engineering at Clemson: there is always more to learn, and sometimes the best place to start is by asking.
Jamila Nadine Booc: Seeing an Idea Move from Concept to Reality
Jamila Nadine Booc, a Computer Science and Linguistics student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, spent her summer interning with Mastercard’s BizOps M&A Integrations Team.
Her work included creating onboarding materials and supporting third-party service request workflows. She also collaborated with interns from around the world through Mastercard’s Intern Innovation Challenge. One project became a particular highlight. Working with other U.S. BizOps interns, Jamila helped design an automation solution to improve triage workflows. Their project went on to become a Top 6 finalist in the Intern Innovation Challenge.
But the most rewarding part may have come after the competition. The team’s automation design will be integrated into a similar project being developed by Mastercard’s full-time team!
For Jamila, that meant seeing an idea she helped build move beyond a presentation and toward something that could actually be put to use. Even more exciting is that she recently accepted an offer to return to Mastercard after she graduates in December!
Yanfu Ou: More Than Just Technical Skills
Yanfu Ou spent his summer at NVIDIA, putting his Computer Engineering background to work in a professional setting.
His work focused on containerizing High-Performance Computing applications. He also collaborated with internal and external clients to benchmark and evaluate the performance of the Docker containers he developed.
The technical side of the work gave Yanfu plenty to learn, but one of his biggest takeaways had less to do with technology and more to do with people: good communication and collaboration matters.
Working with others showed him just how much teamwork goes into technical projects. Knowing how to communicate clearly, listen, and work effectively with a team can be every bit as important as knowing the technology itself.
Jason Trejo: Saying Yes to Something New
Jason Trejo, a Finance student at Illinois State University, spent his summer working in sales with The Commencement Group. The internship took him across the country and introduced him to a side of business he hadn’t experienced before.
There were plenty of memorable moments along the way. Jason visited Buc-ee’s for the first time, made it to a Brewers game, and got to see parts of the country he hadn’t experienced before.
Of course, there was plenty of work behind those experiences, too. During one trip, Jason helped scale a refrigerated box truck and surpassed his team’s benchmark by more than 150%.
What stood out most to Jason was the chance to have fun while learning something completely new. The experience pushed him into unfamiliar situations, gave him a different perspective on sales, and showed him that trying something outside his usual lane can pay off.
Smilte Sazanskyte: Realizing There’s More Than One Way Forward
For Smilte Sazanskyte, this summer marked an important first: her first IT internship.
The University of Miami Computer Science student worked with International Motors in Identity and Access Management, gaining hands-on experience in cybersecurity and technical problem-solving while getting a feel for the professional environment.
But some of the lessons she valued most came from the people she met.
Through conversations with people working in different roles and industries, Smilte began to see that a career doesn’t have to follow a perfectly planned route. People change direction. They discover new interests. They find opportunities they never expected.
That realization gave Smilte a fresh perspective on her own future. Instead of feeling like she needs to have every step figured out, she can stay curious, explore different possibilities, and let new experiences help shape what comes next.
Five Summers, Five Different Experiences
There was no single Green Halo summer experience.
Amari competed for a major scholarship and helped his team win a Toyota challenge. Jamila worked on projects at Mastercard and saw one of her team’s ideas move toward real-world implementation. Yanfu put his technical skills to work at NVIDIA and came away with a deeper appreciation for communication and teamwork. Jason traveled the country while getting a taste of the sales world. Smilte completed her first IT internship and came away with a broader view of what a career can look like.
Five scholars. Five very different summers.
And maybe that’s the point.
College is full of opportunities that can teach you something you didn’t know you needed to learn. Sometimes you discover a new skill. Sometimes you meet someone who changes how you think. Sometimes you find that you really enjoy something you never expected to try. And sometimes, you simply learn that there’s more than one way to get where you’re going.
This summer gave Amari, Jamila, Yanfu, Jason, and Smilte room to explore all of that. We’re proud of what they accomplished, and even more excited to see what they do with what they learned.
