STCC student builds career foundations through MassDOT internship

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – This summer, Springfield Technical Community College student Junior Mwakangata is playing a role in improving the way people travel across Massachusetts.

As an intern with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), Mwakangata is working alongside professional engineers to ensure road and bridge construction projects are built safely and according to plan.

“My role is as an inspector,” Mwakangata explained. “We work with a residential engineer and make sure the contractor is following the plans and not taking shortcuts. We take measurements, collect samples and oversee the site.”

A Chicopee resident, Mwakangata, 21, has already contributed to two major projects – one involving bridge construction near a waterfall in Monson and another road reconstruction project in the same town.

A civil engineering technology student at STCC, Mwakangata is applying the classroom knowledge he’s gained directly in the field. “At STCC, I took classes like surveying and physics that gave me the basics. Now I get to apply what I learned in the real world,” he said. “It’s exciting to see that what I study is actually useful on the job.”

Mwakangata also credits a recent Career Fair at STCC, and faculty who encouraged student participation, for helping him land the internship. “My professor from surveying took us to the fair. That’s where I first met MassDOT. They offered good pay, good opportunities and exposure to real fieldwork. That’s what got me interested,” he said.

MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said, “I’m always grateful for feedback that indicates people like Springfield Technical Community College’s Junior Mwakangata is getting the best value from his experience with us interning with the Highway Division. 

“In fact, Junior’s supervisors have told me directly that he is a high performer,” Gulliver added. “The Highway Division plays a major role in training the next generation of employees, and students like Junior who make the most of their time with us gain valuable experience and also inspire others to pursue careers in state service.”

At STCC, I took classes like surveying and physics that gave me the basics. Now I get to apply what I learned in the real world. Junior Mwakangata, Civil Engineering Technology student at STCC

Melishia Santiago, Assistant Dean of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), said she was thrilled to see Mwakangata take full advantage of the opportunity.

“Junior is a wonderful example of what’s possible when talent meets opportunity,” Santiago said. “Our students are prepared to step into professional roles with confidence, and internships like this one with MassDOT give them the platform to shine. We’re proud to see a civil engineering technology student represent STCC on such a big stage.”

Nathan Andary, director of Career Services at STCC, praised the internship as a high-impact learning opportunity.

“An internship with MassDOT offers more than just a glimpse into the transportation industry – it’s a powerful opportunity for students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world challenges,” Andary said.

Andary said internships are a great way to make connections, learn how industry really works and show what you bring to the table.

“The best internships are mutually beneficial: students gain hands-on experience, while employers identify emerging talent who are ready to contribute and grow,” Andary said.

In May 2025, Mwakangata received the Joseph J. Deliso, Sr. Scholarship and the Title V Scholarship, which helped him cut down on hours at his job as a personal care assistant to focus more on school. “The scholarship meant a lot. I used it for school supplies and to help relieve the burden on my mom,” he said. “She’s a single mother and a nurse practitioner. She came to the U.S. before me and really worked hard so I could have a better life.”

Originally from Tanzania, Mwakangata immigrated to the U.S. in 2021 and began his education at Chicopee Comprehensive High School. His desire to become a civil engineer grew from witnessing firsthand the impact of poor infrastructure in his home country.

 “When I was older, my mom worked as a driver for a civil engineering company, and I saw how roads could transform a village.”

While his long-term goal is to open his own civil engineering firm, Mwakangata hopes to begin his career at MassDOT after transferring to UMass to complete his bachelor’s degree. “In five years, I see myself working full-time at MassDOT, and in ten years, hopefully I’ll be a Civil Engineer III or even running my own firm,” he said.

For now, he’s relishing every moment of his internship. “It feels really good to pass by a project and say, ‘I worked on that.’ Roads don’t always get appreciated, but they’re such a big part of society,” he said. “We get to travel safely and on time because of good infrastructure.”

He encourages fellow STCC students to seek out internships. “An internship opens your eyes. It helps you see how your classroom work applies in the real world. You learn technical skills, but also life lessons,” he said. “One of my mentors told me to start investing early and think about the future. That’s something you don’t learn in class.”

Mwakangata says STCC has been one of the best parts of his journey. “The professors are helpful, and the support is amazing. I use the STEM Center to study, connect with people and even relax. I feel at home here. And the gym’s great too,” he added with a smile.

For students considering engineering or public service, he offers this message: “You made a smart choice coming to community college. Stick with it – it gets better. You can build a career and make a difference.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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