◗ In The News Internship at Springfield Armory inspires STCC graduate SPRINGFIELD – When she saw organization. an opening for an internship at the “Maeliz made a great decision by Springfield Armory National Historic pursuing the internship at the Springfield Site, Maeliz Colon was intrigued but Armory Museum,” McGinnis-Cavanaugh she didn’t think she had the right back- said. “The legacy of the City of ground. Springfield and the Springfield Armory “The description was that you have in particular is one of innovation. to be a history major or archaeology Engineers design innovations that impact major,” said Colon, a 2019 Springfield and benefit every sector of society. Thus, Technical Community College graduate. this internship is a perfect match for an who is transferring to the University of engineering student and a meaningful Massachusetts in Amherst this fall. opportunity for interdisciplinary learning “I’m an engineering major,” she and collaboration.” said. McGinnis-Cavanaugh said she has But encouraged by Professor Beth no doubt about Colon’s ability and drive McGinnis-Cavanaugh, her faculty advi- to succeed. sor at STCC, Colon applied, interviewed “I’m proud of Maeliz for taking for the position and was offered the sum- what was in her mind a risk,” McGinnis- mer internship. Cavanaugh said. “I am thrilled at how And, it turned out, she learned more Turley Publications Photo courtesy of James Danko she has pushed her engineering educa- about science, technology, engineering STCC graduate Maeliz Colon stands next to a sign for the college and the Springfield Armory tion beyond the classroom. Maeliz will and mathematics (STEM) than she ever National Historic Site. She interned at the Springfield Armory Museum this summer. benefit from this experience on many imagined. levels as she continues her engineering Colon learned about chemical reac- offered through the National Park The STCC campus sits on the education at UMass and will be a better tions involving black powder, which was Service. The program provides career Springfield Armory National Historic engineer because of it.” used in the early firearms on display at exploration opportunities for diverse cur- Site, which was founded in 1777 and is Raised in Holyoke, Colon, 21, the Springfield Armory Museum. She rent college students and recent gradu- managed by the National Park Service. graduated from STCC in May, earn- also learned about the process of manu- ates ages 18 to 35 in historic preserva- “We were interested in interview- ing an associate degree in engineering facturing guns, which involved some of tion and cultural resources work. The ing Maeliz because of our partnership,” and science transfer. She now lives in the same principles she was exposed to at Springfield Armory is one of 21 national Glowacki said. “Opening the doors and Springfield. STCC. Gun makers used interchangeable parks to receive an intern through the welcoming a STCC student was the She received a National Science parts and strove to find efficient manu- program. Colon worked 30 hours per number one priority.” Foundation Scholarship in Science, facturing methods, which are concepts week. STCC President John B. Cook said, Technology, Engineering and taught in engineering classes. Amy Glowacki, chief of interpreta- “The relationship between the college Mathematics (S-STEM) from UMass As she pored through historical tion at the Armory, said Colon’s back- and National Park Service is long-stand- College of Engineering. The scholarship reports at the Armory, Colon began to see ground in engineering and science made ing, and we are cheered by this won- program provides support for low-in- more and more connections to her days her a strong candidate. As part of her derful example. With appreciation to come academically talented students. learning about engineering at STCC. summer internship, Colon is drafting the Armory and Professor McGinnis- Colon hopes to one day work as a “I noticed the story of the Armory is reports for park rangers that combine Cavanaugh, it is tremendous to see STCC professional engineer, but will no doubt very relevant to engineering,” Colon said, science and history. The rangers use her students apply STEM perspectives in carry the lessons she learned as an intern speaking from the Armory Museum one research to educate students and share such a unique setting.” at the Springfield Armory. summer day. “A lot of engineering took with school teachers. Colon’s faculty advisor at STCC, “This was at the top of the list of place here, but they don’t call it that. “At the National Park Service, we’re McGinnis-Cavanaugh, professor of engi- internships I applied for,” Colon said. “I They call it machining.” not all about history,” Glowacki said. neering and physics, taught her in sev- saw there were engineering internships Colon joined the Armory as an “Science is a key part of the stories that eral classes. McGinnis-Cavanaugh also in Connecticut, but I really wanted this intern on June 10 as part of the American we tell. Maeliz is helping us to create serves as faculty advisor to the Society of one because it was different. It gave me Conservation Experience’s Cultural these avenues to tell the stories to our Women Engineers at STCC and remem- a different perspective. It showed me that Resources Diversity Internship Program students.” bered Colon being quite active with the science is part of history.”