Today@Sam Article

Bearkat Internships: Connor Brett

Sept. 30, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins

Since earning the Smith-Hutson Scholarship in 2021, Connor Brett has continually personified the work ethic and drive that defines Sam Houston State University students. The Crandall, Texas native took another leap toward his professional aspirations this summer with a dynamic mechanical engineering internship with Helmerich & Payne (H&P).

“The leadership roles I’ve held in organizations at Sam Houston have helped me develop the necessary skills for understanding people and how to work with them,” Brett said. “That really shined during my interview process with H&P.”

The senior mechanical engineering technology major and chemistry minor is a member of SHSU’s Elliott T. Bowers Honors College, Student Government Association and the Orange Keys. In the classroom, Brett has sharpened his STEM acumen and deepened his passion for his chosen field.

“I see engineering as the intersection between art and science,” he said. “Engineers figure out ways to complete useful, often beautiful projects despite obstacles that may appear to be insurmountable.”

His STEM-intensive high school curriculum set him up for his current major, but Brett was also intrigued by the business side of the engineering world when he first entered college. After his freshman year, he had an opportunity to travel abroad to visit several historic sites in Peru, including Incan ruin sites such as Machu Picchu.

“As I viewed the feat of engineering that is Machu Picchu, I knew I had chosen the right profession,” he said.

This perspective and his studies ultimately allowed him to secure the summer internship with H&P at the company’s Galena Park construction facility. From May to August, Brett shadowed a seasoned project engineer responsible for overseeing a multitude of construction projects for a prominent contract oil and gas drilling company.

“I was also building and assisting with designs to help make certain aspects of the process safer in the yard,” he said. “It introduced me to a lot of core fundamentals. I learned the entire design process, starting with ideas then going up through blueprints and, ultimately, prototypes.”

Simultaneously, Brett developed a design with his mentor that he presented to his supervisors at summer’s end. The project centered around a platform which allows construction crews to assemble their rigs in a more stable environment that could be conveniently concealed when needed.

“If you already know those skills going in, there is less of a learning curve when you start a new employment opportunity,” said Brett while praising the STEM-intensive classes he has taken at SHSU. “I learned a lot from those classes and used them in a professional setting.”

Brett is set to graduate in the spring and, thanks to his diverse experiences over the summer, has already accepted an associate engineer role with the company. He has chosen to start his career with H&P mainly due to the organization’s core values and responsible business practices. One of these values is a commitment to service, which Brett directly associates with SHSU’s motto: The measure of a Life is its Service.  

“This industry is huge. A lot of drilling happens in Texas, and it’s a major contributor to the state’s economy,” he said. “By being a small cog in that industry, I can help find innovative ways to make products and services more efficient while working to make the process more environmentally friendly as well.”

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