Maverick Weber’s first engineering internship left him questioning his direction. After his freshman year of college, he completed an internship that wasn’t the right fit and considered whether he should change majors. But before stepping away from civil engineering, he decided to explore another workplace. That decision brought him to Bollig Engineering’s Willmar office. Meeting the team helped him see a different possibility: an engineering career with hands-on learning, approachable colleagues, and a connection to small communities. Maverick joined Bollig as an intern in May 2025, continued part-time during the school year, and became a full-time project engineer in May 2026.
Small-Town Roots Inspired His Career 
Maverick grew up in Franklin, Minnesota, a community of about 500 people. He saw how much small towns depend on the dedication of residents, city staff, and volunteers. He was also curious about infrastructure. Watching crews dig trenches and install pipe made him wonder what they were building and why. Civil engineering connected that curiosity with a way to give back. As he gained experience, he learned that even familiar systems, such as drinking water infrastructure, involve different challenges in every community. He pointed out, “Every town is different. Each has different challenges. But the common goal is safe drinking water for everybody that needs it.” That connection between technical work and everyday life continues to motivate him.
Finding a Workplace Where Questions Were Welcome
Maverick’s visit to Bollig helped him rethink what an internship could offer. He found colleagues who welcomed questions and made time to help. Instead of feeling uncomfortable asking for guidance, he could walk down the hall or contact someone to talk through a problem. He was glad he decided to give Bollig a try, “After working all summer as an intern at Bollig, I drew in more opportunity and knowledge than I have anywhere else.” The experience gave him both renewed confidence in civil engineering and a clearer idea of where he wanted to build his career.
Learning by Working Through Real Projects
One of the most valuable parts of Maverick’s internship was the chance to work through assignments himself, then discuss his approach with experienced colleagues. He could explain his reasoning, consider another perspective, and understand why a different approach might work better, which led to learning, “It comes down to those conversations where you’re learning by actually doing it.” Project variety was another important part of his experience. Exposure to different infrastructure needs helped him explore his interests rather than decide on a specialty before trying the work. The field experience also connected him with operators, city staff, and homeowners. Those conversations helped him understand that a project is more than its plans and construction details. It affects the people who will rely on it long after the engineering team’s work is complete.
Continuing Part-Time While Finishing School
At the end of his summer internship, Maverick had the opportunity to stay with Bollig part-time during the school year. The arrangement allowed him to continue learning and contributing while keeping his education the priority. He looks back, “The agreement with Bollig was to work when I could, but school comes first.” Through project assignments and conversations with engineers, he stayed connected to the team while adjusting his workload around school. By the time he became a full-time project engineer with Bollig, he had already built working relationships and gained experience contributing to projects. His internship had become a foundation for his career.
Learning Beyond the Classroom: Concrete Canoe
While studying at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Maverick and fellow Bollig intern Melayna Marshman, helped restart their university’s Concrete Canoe team. Building a concrete canoe put their problem-solving and teamwork skills to the test, and their canoe ultimately floated. When it was time to attend the competition at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, Bollig provided a work truck and enclosed trailer to transport the canoe and equipment. “Not only did we learn a lot about engineering stuff, but we were meeting students from other schools, other people that we might run into, five, ten, twenty years down the road that were all there for the common goal.” The experience gave Maverick and Melayna opportunities to put engineering concepts into practice and connect with other students entering the profession.
Continuing to Learn: New Connections at WEFTEC
Maverick’s learning didn’t stop when his internship ended. This fall, he traveled to New Orleans with Bollig colleagues to attend WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference, where water quality professionals explore technologies, exchange ideas, and build connections. For Maverick, meeting suppliers and equipment representatives was especially valuable. Having those conversations in person helped him build relationships with people he can contact when questions come up on a project. The experience reinforced Maverick’s interest in water and wastewater treatment. “Overall, this opportunity was amazing to meet the people and see the new technologies, and there is no question that I would like to dig deeper into the process side of both water and wastewater.”
His Advice to Students: Explore Your Options
Maverick encourages students to look beyond company size or name recognition when choosing a civil engineering internship. He recommends meeting the people and visiting the office when possible. Ask about the work and think about where you’ll feel comfortable learning. If one internship isn’t the right fit, he says, that doesn’t mean the profession isn’t right for you. He suggests, “If you try it and it wasn’t a good fit, switch directions, step out of your comfort zone.” For Maverick, exploring another opportunity helped him find his direction and turn an internship into meaningful, full-time work. Hear more from Maverick and his story in the video below.
Find Your Starting Point
Interested in exploring civil engineering through real projects and small-community work? Learn about career opportunities y current job openings at Bollig Engineering.
If you’re pursuing civil engineering or a related field, explore another way Bollig supports students: the Small Communities Scholarship. Review eligibility requirements and application details for students who live in or attend college in Minnesota, North Dakota, or South Dakota.
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