Summer of discovery for Port of Tacoma interns

For five interns, this summer was full of experiences that could jumpstart their careers.

Working at the Port of Tacoma and The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA), the college students and recent graduates got a close-up look at Port operations and worked on meaningful projects.

They also had fun, taking a small boat tour of the Port and going up in cranes nearly 200 feet above the pier.

"I think the cranes are probably the craziest thing," said Kalen Davis-White, a Pacific Lutheran University student.

Working alongside the NWSA's operations team was Davis-White's most valuable takeaway as an intern.

"The full experience of what this place is like, day in and day out, that's pretty much what I'm walking away with," Davis-White said.

Brown University student Corinne Harrison also interned in the operations department, and "came in with the mindset of wanting to just learn everything I could about how a port operates."

A business economics major, Harrison said the internship helped her understand the dynamics of global trade, including how items get from ships to shelves.

"It was awesome - the best internship ever," Harrison said.

Nathan Sim, a recent graduate of Western Washington University, interned in the grants department.

Sim worked alongside experts applying for grants for Port of Tacoma and NWSA projects.

"It can be complicated, but they've done a good job at breaking it down for me," Sim said.

Sim said he found satisfaction working on funding for projects that could serve the public for decades.

Coming to work on Tacoma's waterfront was a bonus.

"This is beautiful, you get the water, and you get the ships, and you get the sounds and the seagulls, so that's really fun," Sim said.

Patrick Ammann of the University of Washington spent much of his internship outdoors, working in the Port's environmental department, setting up wildlife cameras in habitat sites.

He also worked with outside organizations on environmental projects.

"In the current job market, it's very hard to get any sort of position without a lot of experience and this position gets me some experience," Ammann said. "The most important part of this internship is the connections I can make because those connections can lead to more opportunities."

Kyla Rogers was also out and about during her internship, working with the Port's community relations department.

Rogers, a Pierce College graduate, staffed outreach events like the boat tours and booths at farmers markets, sharing the story of the Port's work with the public.

"I've noticed with this internship that I really like just talking to people," Rogers said. "I enjoyed explaining what the Port is to the community."

The Port's internship program gives enrolled college students opportunities outside of the classroom, with specific offerings varying from year to year based on the needs of Port departments.

All internships are paid and are likely to be posted in late February or early March for the following summer. 

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