From Classroom to Coca-Cola

When Jeremiah Richard, a senior from Katy, Texas, spotted a new engineering internship for Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages (CCSWB) at their Abilene location posted on LinkedIn in early April, he had no idea it would become a defining moment in his academic journey.

As a mechanical engineering student at Hardin-Simmons University, he was actively seeking a summer opportunity to complement his rigorous coursework.

“I secured my internship kind of at the last minute,” Jeremiah recalled. “At the beginning of April, I noticed on LinkedIn that a new engineering position became available. I believe a day or two later, Mrs. Guajardo also sent an email out to engineering students, encouraging us to apply. She knew I was rigorously looking for an internship, so after hearing from her personally, I decided to submit an application.”

After applying, Jeremiah went three to four weeks without hearing anything. Then, during a stressful week leading up to finals, he received an unexpected call asking if he could interview the next day. The following week brought even better news: he had been selected for the position.

“Out of all the engineering applicants from area universities and technical colleges, I was offered the position,” Jeremiah said with pride. “I thought that was super cool and just reemphasized for me the favor God has over my life.”

Jeremiah’s official title this summer at CCSWB is Manufacturing Engineering Intern Support, and his role focuses on water stewardship, a critical component of the company’s environmental initiatives.

“CCSWB has an initiative where they are trying to meet specific environmental goals through water and energy use,” Jeremiah said. “Right now, I am pulling data from the last five months and analyzing it by trying to figure out where the water is going, why we used more water on a certain day compared to another, and overall, just trying to find ways to be more efficient within the facilities.”

The scope of responsibility given to Jeremiah speaks volumes about both his preparation and HSU’s ability to develop job-ready engineers. He’s not just observing, he’s contributing to real solutions that impact environmental sustainability.

“My supervisor also told me that if I have any ideas that can have a real impact, he will allow me to help supervise and oversee the construction of those improvements,” Jeremiah noted.

HSU’s engineering program, which will graduate its first cohort in spring 2026, emphasizes foundational skills that have proven invaluable as Jeremiah faced his first week on the job with his supervisor out of the office.

“Even though I haven’t taken anything that would specifically apply to my internship, the engineering program at HSU gave me the foundational skills I needed to succeed,” Jeremiah said. “I relied heavily on the problem-solving mindset, attention to detail, and technical communication skills we’ve been developing in our core courses. These helped me break down large amounts of clean-in-place data, spot inconsistencies in water and chemical usage, and document findings clearly for review.”

His advanced mechanics class proved particularly transformative, not for its direct application to content, but for the critical thinking skills it developed.

“While that class has absolutely nothing to do with my internship in terms of its content, the problem-solving skills I learned from that class more than equipped me for this internship and more than likely any other problem I will ever face,” Jeremiah said. “We were given a problem like nothing I had ever seen before or even thought of before, so it forced my brain to think outside the box.”

Jeremiah Richards attends a meeting during his internship with Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages.

The internship has provided Jeremiah with insights that extend far beyond technical skills. Working at CCSWB has given him exposure to the breadth of engineering applications and helped clarify his career aspirations.

“The most surprising part of working at CCSWB is seeing all the different drinks that are considered Coke products,” Jeremiah said. “I did not realize how many everyday drinks and foods are partnered with the company. It also surprised me just how many drinks are produced every day and the vast quantity of them. I also find it amazing that in such a fast-paced work environment, the work atmosphere can still feel so relaxed.”

Jeremiah shared that this experience has helped him better understand his future career goals, showing him first-hand what he wants his work-life balance to feel like.

“I want to own my own company where I invent and innovate things one day, so working here gave me another perspective on how I can reach that dream,” said Jeremiah.

Based on his experience, Jeremiah offers practical wisdom for future engineering students.

“For future engineering students looking for an internship, start early. Like, truly, begin early. The more experience you can gain, the better off you will be,” said Jeremiah. “Also, maximize your summer classes; they will help keep you on track or potentially even get ahead, which is something that will be very beneficial for you in the long run.”

But his most important advice reflects the values that HSU instills.

“Above all of this, trust God. I know this is often much easier said than done, especially in areas like engineering,” said Jeremiah. “Know that he has a plan for you, and whether that plan is you getting accepted into every opportunity you apply to for all your college years or not getting accepted until the summer before your senior year, like me, trust him. Don’t worry about failing or not being enough, because things will work out the way he wants. Don’t fight God for control; relinquish it to him. Do everything you can in your power and allow God to take care of the rest.”

Jeremiah’s success at CCSWB demonstrates that while HSU’s engineering program may be young, it is delivering on its promise to provide world-class education. The combination of rigorous academics, personal attention from faculty, and a faith-based foundation creates graduates who are not only technically competent but also ethically grounded and professionally mature.