From Manhattan to Black & Veatch: K-State student gains real-world engineering experience

McKinley Robb has used skills taught to her at K-State to succeed outside the classroom at an internship with Black & Veatch. | Download this photo.

When McKinley Robb, a sophomore in electrical engineering at Kansas State University, walked into her first day as an intern with Black & Veatch, she carried with her more than a resume. She brought the skills, confidence and support network she built at K-State — resources she credits with helping her earn and thrive in the competitive position.

Robb, a Carl R. Ice College of Engineering's Solar Club member and an Engineering Ambassador, spent the summer contributing to large-scale projects at the global engineering and construction company. Her work focused on substations connected to renewable energy sources, particularly solar farms, and was built directly on concepts she first encountered in her coursework at K-State.

A foundation in the classroom and beyond

Robb said the preparation began early in her college career. As a first-year student, she leaned on the K-State Career Center for resume feedback and interview practice before the university's career fair. Those resources, she said, not only sharpened her materials but also gave her the confidence to present her skills to Black & Veatch.

"I was only in my second semester as a freshman, so I was taking introductory courses like calculus and physics," Robb said. "However, how K-State's degree map is laid out allows me to develop marketable skills, so I am a competitive candidate."

One of those skills came from Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering, a required course for engineering majors. Robb learned digital logic and logic drawings — knowledge she applied almost immediately at Black & Veatch.

"That course introduced me to concepts that became a big part of my work this summer," Robb said. "Having that foundation meant I could jump in and contribute to projects without learning a new topic."

Bridging classroom concepts with industry challenges

At Black & Veatch, Robb saw firsthand how classroom theory translates to professional practice. She contributed to projects involving substations, transmission lines and protective systems, learning how technical decisions are influenced by cost, time and client needs.

"This internship gave me real-world experience applying the concepts I've learned in class to large-scale projects," she said. "Working with clients taught me the importance of analyzing past projects to spot improvements and applying those insights to make future projects more effective."

Robb said the experience helped her identify her career goals, particularly in substation design. She also plans to take courses like Power System Protection, offered through the College of Engineering, to further connect her academic path with industry demands.

"I was told that having a good understanding of protection and design will help me bridge gaps between teams in the future," she said. "That's why I'm happy I accepted the challenge of working in an unfamiliar group. It will help me become a more well-rounded electrical engineer."

A supportive K-State environment

Looking back on her K-State experience so far, Robb said the university's culture of communication and support has been key. Engineering students are required to take a public speaking course — a requirement she believes sets K-State apart.

"K-State fosters a communicative and supportive environment," Robb said. "That attitude carried into my environment at Black & Veatch as well. I knew how to communicate concerns or improvements that could be made properly, and I was not afraid to ask questions when I did not know things because of the K-State environment I was already used to."

She said that resources such as Scholars Assisting Scholars, which provides peer tutoring in engineering courses, and professors' office hours have also made an impact.

Next-generation impact

With more than 3,000 students, the College of Engineering is the most extensive engineering program in Kansas and a key driver of the university's Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, which focuses on advancing economic prosperity and workforce development across the state.

For Robb, that means pursuing renewable energy and substation design while building on the foundation K-State has provided.

"My end goal is to work more on substation design," she said. "This internship helped me understand what areas of electrical engineering I enjoy most, like working on renewable energy projects, and how I can shape my coursework at K-State to pursue that path."

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