This summer, 56 interns representing 22 colleges and universities joined WGI teams across 13 office locations. They worked across Civil, Transportation, Buildings, Geospatial, Streamline, and our Corporate team, and by the end of the program, many had built real-world skills that will carry into their careers.

A Program Built on Real Work

Orientation kicked off in May, introducing interns to WGI’s culture and safety expectations. CEO David Wantman and President Greg Sauter also joined, engaging in a leadership discussion about WGI’s business and the role early-career talent plays in its future.

From there, interns moved into their local teams and got to work. Depending on their discipline and office, that meant supporting project design and calculations, sitting in on client meetings, joining site visits, and learning the tools and systems WGI’s teams use every day. Managers consistently pointed to the same qualities: interns who asked good questions, took feedback well, and showed up ready for whatever came next.

Peyton Wulf, a Civil Engineering Intern in our San Antonio office, put it this way:

“My experience at WGI has been everything I could ask for in a first internship! The positive work environment, hardworking colleagues, and outstanding management have provided the perfect opportunity for me to grow both personally and professionally. I have strengthened my skills greatly and developed a deeper understanding of the industry.”

A Capstone That Crossed Every Discipline

The biggest collaborative undertaking of the summer was the Capstone Project, built around the I-75 Marion County Rest Area project in Florida. Interns were split into cross-disciplinary teams and asked to develop concepts that pulled from Buildings, Civil, Transportation, and Geospatial all at once, which meant stepping outside their individual majors to understand how WGI’s disciplines actually work together on a real project.

The experience opened with a full-day kickoff and hackathon in early June, where interns met their teammates, rotated through conversations with project sponsors, and started shaping their approach. Over the following weeks, teams balanced the capstone alongside their regular internship work, then presented their final recommendations to WGI leaders, managers, mentors, and fellow interns.

Shaziah Ali, an Architecture Intern in our Tampa office, described her summer as a chance to grow into new territory:

“Working at WGI has allowed me to explore my curiosities with guidance and patience. The work environment is built within feelings of professionalism, community, and wisdom that has accelerated my growth both personally and professionally.”

Learning From the People Who Lead

Access to leadership didn’t stop at orientation. Interns joined innovation-focused conversations with President Gregory Sauter, where students from different divisions discussed the future of the industry and where young professionals fit into it. In San Antonio, interns had lunch with WGI’s Chief Operating Officer, Shad Shafie, giving them a smaller, more direct setting to ask questions of senior leadership.

Local offices carried much of the day-to-day experience: team lunches, field days, and informal moments that turned interns into members of the team rather than observers. Shannon Elliott, a Transportation – Roadway Intern in our Tallahassee office, felt that firsthand:

“My favorite part of this internship is gaining experience through real-world design projects that challenge me and deepen my understanding of what it means to be an engineer. I also appreciate the support and guidance I receive from the team every day.”

More Than a Summer

Managers held regular check-ins throughout the program, backed by midpoint reviews, intern pulse surveys, and end-of-program reflections. That feedback loop helped identify interns who proactively sought input, volunteered for extra assignments, and became trusted team members faster than expected.

For a number of this year’s interns, the program is a starting point rather than a conclusion. Several are already being considered for part-time Fall 2026 roles, a return for Summer 2027, or a transition into full-time positions after graduation.

Thank You to Our 2026 Intern Class

On July 30, WGI marked National Intern Day as part of a week dedicated to recognizing everything our interns brought to the table this summer. To every intern who took on a capstone challenge, sat in on a client call, or asked a question that made a project better: thank you. What you built this summer will carry into the work WGI does for years to come.

Interested in joining our next class of interns? Explore our internship program and see how WGI is developing the next generation of industry leaders.