>>>>> Co-op has some exciting news! The program now includes more options to give students the different experiences they’re looking for! details on back cover
CO OPED Fall 2019
Pitt Swanson School of Engineering Cooperative Education Program
in partnership with the School of Computing and Information and the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Engineering division
CO-OPS OF THE
CARIBBEAN
Construction firm dck worldwide LLC has offered Pitt co-op students an experience that is out of this world—or at least out of this country. Though it’s headquartered here in Pittsburgh, dck has sent several co-op students to job sites in places such as Jamaica, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Nevis, the West Indies, and the Caribbean islands. It has given students an unforgettable experience. “Being able to travel and work in the Caribbean was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Anthony Gentile, a mechanical engineering major. “Working on a beach and seeing crystal clear waters every day was something I’ll never forget.” The chance to travel and work abroad was not what initially piqued Gentile’s interest in dck. It was something much closer to home. “dck was the contractor in charge of PNC Park. I love going to PNC Park, and I personally think that it is the greatest ballpark in MLB (Major League Baseball). I wanted to work with dck to help create a project that people could enjoy for years,” Gentile says. He was located in Anguilla in the British West Indies for his second work rotation during the fall 2018 term. He was able to gain important work experience, and his surroundings weren’t too shabby either.
“The best part of working abroad was the beaches,” Gentile says. “I was on an island with some of the cleanest and most beautiful beaches in the world. After a long day of work, I would head to the beach to relax. I also enjoyed the privacy—there aren’t many people on the island, so I would usually have the beach all to myself.” Gentile was working on the Belmond Cap Juluca Resort project. He assisted the MEP coordinator on different tasks and worked alongside electricians to ensure that the main generators were ready for permanent power. Although he enjoyed working in the Caribbean, it did have its downsides, such as the lack of simple everyday things that we may take for granted in the United States.
Anthony Gentile’s pictures from Anguilla
“In Anguilla, the tap water wasn’t safe to drink because the island lacked a proper sanitation system. All the food was imported because they couldn’t grow anything because of all the hurricanes, which makes prices skyrocket,” Gentile says. Overall, the experience in Anguilla was a unique one for him and one that he thinks other students should consider. “Working in the Caribbean was cool because I got to see how a different culture lives and works on an island that doesn’t have as much access to some of the luxuries as we do. I would recommend dck to other students because the company offers a co-op that gets engineers started,” Gentile says. “I have enjoyed my time with dck and am thankful for all that I have learned with them.”