student at John Deere

Coming from West Philadelphia, Geoffrey Milord (ME) is part of the first generation in his family to go to college. When he did, he took what he described as a “leap of faith” in pursuing engineering.

“It was hard for me to figure out what I wanted to do, but I researched different jobs in science, joining organizations like the ACE mentor program (architecture, construction, engineering), and relying on my teachers,” Milord said.

He seems well on his way toward his goal of helping as many people as he can through his education and personal focus on agricultural engineering. It also makes sense that he is working as a Supplier Quality Engineering intern this summer with John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa.

“I’m working on a ‘retention of critical knowledge’ document for gears and shafts, which is used to support new quality engineers at John Deere as a guide,” he said. “I will also be working on a ‘cost of quality’ document to assess how the department can become more efficient, highlight the quality planning, quality control and issue costs pertaining to supply components in tractors.”

He added that his classroom experience gave him both technical expertise and intangible preparation.

“Even if you may not be doing well now, it's not over until it's over. You can always persevere if you are determined to get through your situation. Also, having an appetite for learning can be a transferable skill, if you keep your mind open to new things you will only produce growth in and out of the classroom,” he said.

The incoming Temple NSBE chapter president connected with the internship during the group’s annual conference in North Carolina last year. After speaking to a scout, he interviewed and was flown to Illinois where he was excited to receive an offer. 

This follows his previous two internship experiences with Philadelphia-based P.Agnes Construction, where he contributed to project management and gained a deeper understanding of building and renovating large structures. Also, Iowa is a new place.

“Lots and lots of corn,” he laughed. “This is my first time in the Midwest and there is so much nature to take in. The skies are breathtaking, and the people are extremely friendly. I have definitely grown to enjoy it out here, but I still miss my city!”

When he comes back, he’ll finish out his senior year and look toward what’s next: helping others, and eventually working toward overseeing a farm.

“I am Haitian, and I would like to use my degree to support family that I have there, create jobs, and aid their economy,” he said.

Did you pursue interesting internship experiences over the summer? Let us know!