Lyles College of Engineering’s Valley Industry Partnership for Cooperative Education program is working to match student interns with manufacturing and technology companies from around the Central Valley.

Because of its growth, support of students and the strong industry participation and engagement, the partnership is a finalist in the Talent category for the University Economic Development Association’s 2018 Awards of Excellence. The Talent category considers lifelong learning, both degree and non-degree programs, experiential education, discovery-based learning programs and industry relevance.

Programs are judged on replicability, scalability, sustainability, impact and originality. Awardees will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 23, during UEDA’s Annual Summit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

“We’re incredibly humbled to be a finalist, but we couldn’t do it without our dedicated students and supportive industry partners,” said Dr. Brissa Quiroz, director of VIP and a lecturer in the Lyles College Civil Engineering Department. “These relationships are overall beneficial for everyone. The students are trained and mentored by professionals in the industry. They are also empowered with opportunities to design and build projects while the companies benefit from dedicated students professionalism and producing college students prepared to enter the industry workforce that understand technological challenges.”

Fresno State students in their junior or senior years majoring in civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering as well as construction management, industrial technology and computer science can apply to the VIP program.

Matthew Rocca, Lyles College 2016 alumnus and mechanical engineer at Pressed Juicery in Dinuba, California, said he was fortunate enough to be selected for internships with companies at opposite ends of the spectrum for mechanical engineers.

“International Paper, LLC was a fast project management and process engineering oriented internship – a great introduction to day-to-day life working in a fast-paced manufacturing facility. Thiele Technologies, on the other hand, was strictly design,” said Matthew. “These two distinct experiences allowed me to choose a direction for the rest of my career. Contrary to my initial thought that a design position would be my ideal path, I left certain that I was much more passionate about being in a manufacturing environment.”