What Current VDOT Scholars Say

“It’s great experience. When you are in the classroom, you only see the academic part…Last year I was in a “Soils” class and I had already learned a lot of it through my experience at VDOT. I was able to actually see it on the job and get an easy “A”. Your experience really carries over into the classroom.”

- Jon Barnum

"I think the Scholar Program is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to go somewhere and be a leader. There is room within this organization to advance when opportunity arises and VDOT offers training that other private companies can't offer… It was a privilege to meet Governor Gilmore and participate on the Springfield Interchange Project."

"The program is a 'complete package.' You start as an intern and are trained quickly while being given the opportunities to grow as an independent individual. VDOT teaches you to be a leader in the future by utilizing the skills you possess and expanding upon the talents you already have as an active member of the work force."

"As a scholar in the program you are well paid and have a variety of different disciplines to choose from within VDOT.” 

    - Lauren Cloyed

"I've had a variety of opportunities that have helped me learn what I want to do. I've worked on bridge plan review, design, ground improvements, geotechnical work, building demolition, scheduling, etc. It's a good mix that has helped me better understand the process.”

“The intern program has allowed me to better define what I want to do with my future and it has also helped me transition into the working world."

- Brian P. Muñoz

“The experience definitely helps out. I’ve already been doing things on the job that I haven’t even studied yet in classes. So, when I take classes, I’ll be ahead of everyone and I’ll be confident in what I’m doing.“

“Not only are you paid while you are working in the summer, but the scholarship helps out during the year because you can focus on your studies. College is expensive, so this really helps out.”

 "This scholarship and internship has offered me two very important things: It's given me money to go to school. And, it’s given me experience that has confirmed this is the kind of work I want to do when I get out of school. My mentor invited me to the engineers' meetings. It enabled me to see how things were structured at VDOT. That was one of the best learning experiences I had all summer here at VDOT."

"I'd certainly recommend this scholarship and training internship. You are not going to find a better deal out there to help you with school. I'm really looking forward to working at VDOT in the summers and when I graduate from school too."
- John Allen Ennis

"One of the best things about the Scholarship Program is that you get paid to work and you get experience in the field that you will need. It's the best offer you can have right now in college. You have the opportunity to rotate in the different divisions in VDOT, which helps you find your niche and it helps you become a better engineer. Everybody helps you out a lot here. My supervisor helped me decide what classes to take and what will help me to achieve my accomplishments. She helped me prepare for engineering tests, such as the EIT and the PE exams. She's helped me in my projects and kept me at a pace that I am comfortable with."

"I recommend this program to all civil engineering majors. You have this opportunity in front of you to get experience and a scholarship. It's an offer you shouldn't pass up! I weighed the possibilities and VDOT's the best by far. I'm definitely going to stay here, even after I fulfill my obligations. I'll stay a long time after that."
- Kristen Tew

“Basically, VDOT taught me exactly what a civil engineer does.There are so many pathways you can take. At school, you may only have a narrow view of the field.I learned I can do so much more.  VDOT is the pathway to what you want to do.” - Susan Cheung