The AMERICAN Student Worker Experience

Student workers at AMERICAN are spending their summer earning valuable, real-world experience in positions across the company with supportive co-workers who are eager to help them learn, grow and succeed. In all, there are 30 student workers representing eight schools from Alabama to California. Here is a closer look at six of this summer’s student workers.

Ella Steed
When rising Auburn University senior Ella Steed first learned about the company while preparing for a career fair, she had no idea how much AMERICAN had already affected her family. In talking with her dad, she learned her great grandfather, Walter Boyce, had been director of Traffic and Transportation at the company. “My family lived in Ohio for most of my grandmother’s childhood. Then, my great grandfather interviewed for and got a job at AMERICAN; that’s the reason my whole family is now in Birmingham,” Steed said.

An industrial engineering student with a passion for solving problems with logistics and manufacturing, Steed is enjoying her work in HR this summer assisting with industrial training. From helping update job procedures and training protocols, to working with employees in Ductile Iron Pipe manufacturing, Steed is embracing every hands-on opportunity this internship brings her way.

“When looking for an internship, it was very important to me to find an opportunity where culture really mattered,” Steed said. “They really prioritize that here, especially for interns, even for those who are here for a short time.”

Jackson May
While some student workers only recently discovered their connections to AMERICAN, others grew up knowing the company. 

Jackson May, son of Project Management Estimator Ken May, has grown up as part of the AMERICAN family, even attending the company’s 100^th birthday celebration in 2005 at age 4. 

May, an information systems management graduate from Auburn University, brings his knowledge, along with IT experience from AU’s vet school, to his position as an IT assistant at AMERICAN. In this role, May handles a variety of IT requests, troubleshooting devices and installing software for employees across the Birmingham campus. “I handle all of the quick fixes and simple issues,” May said. “The great thing about IT is that you never know what the day holds. It has a little surprise factor to it.”

With plans to continue his education in pursuit of an engineering degree at UAB, May has welcomed the learning experiences that AMERICAN has provided. “No one expects you to be an expert on the first day,” he said. “There are future opportunities for growth. It’s a company that once you get in, you are probably going to want to stay.” 

Abby Manning Trotman
This rings true for Engineering’s Abby Manning Trotman, who has participated in AMERICAN’s student worker program since 2022. Entering her senior year in mechanical engineering at UAB, Trotman’s knack for hands-on work and 3D product design using SolidWorks has carried her through three semesters of rotations. 

“The experience is really worth it,” Trotman said. “Playing the long game is great, because it can lead to a great outcome, like a potential job when you graduate. You also learn a lot from the people around you who have been here for many years and know so much about the company.”

Jack Hosna
Jack Hosna is another UAB mechanical engineering student whose three years of co-op assignments have given him a wealth of knowledge. Previously in Project Management, this summer he is working in Safety to help analyze equipment in the plant.

“I like that I get to go into manufacturing,” Hosna said. “I do desk work and computer technical writing, but I also get outside and work with my hands.”

Despite his love for the work, Hosna says it is ultimately the people he works with who are making the biggest difference in his life. “They have knowledge with both the job and life experiences,” Hosna said. “My mentors have always been positive and encouraging and great people to work with.”

Eliška Martinez
More than 2,000 miles from home, California Polytechnic State University student Eliška Martinez is lending her engineering background to the Ductile Iron Pipe Marketing Services Department in the Sales Division. In her position, she assists in gathering information for proposals and presentations for customers. This requires attention to detail and a high level of technical accuracy.

“At AMERICAN, we value building relationships with our customers,” Martinez said. “Part of this means demonstrating we are experts in the industry.”

Martinez’s summer in Birmingham has allowed her to hone her abilities in a professional setting. “I like taking a very hands-on approach to doing things,” Martinez said. “I came here and was able to jump right into my work, and that’s what I love. I love it here.”

Chance Milner
Commuting between Tuscaloosa and AMERICAN, University of Alabama graduate Chance Milner is working in Quality Assurance before pursuing a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering this fall. His role here is allowing him to put into practice what he learned at school while gaining on-the-job knowledge and skills. 

In Ductile Iron Pipe, under the guidance of co-workers, he is performing test procedures and working in the sand lab. “You have the capability to do everything on your own, but there are always people around to make sure you are on the right track,” Milner said. “They want to see others succeed. That’s what makes a good workforce flow.”

Providing opportunities for engaging, high-quality work in a Golden Rule-driven environment is AMERICAN’s standard for all student worker roles. “AMERICAN is not just a job,” Milner said. “It’s a career. It’s somewhere for you to work and grow.”

For more information on AMERICAN’s student work program and other opportunities, visit https://american-usa.com/careers.