WINONA LAKE — This summer, Jacob Scheele’s past and present came together to guide his future. Scheele, a senior at Grace College, recently completed an internship with Weigand Construction. Scheele grew up in Fort Wayne, where Weigand is headquartered and a local staple. Weigand is also a familiar name at Grace College, which has contracted with the company on several projects including the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center and the recently completed Dr. Dane A. Miller Science Complex.

Pictured is Grace College student Jacob Scheele who interned and was offered a job at Weigand Construction this summer.

Scheele learned of the internship opening in the Business Development Department at Weigand and was intrigued by its focus on marketing and graphic design. As a visual communication and design major at Grace, it seemed right up his alley.

“Working for a company that is so involved and influential in my communities seemed like an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Scheele.

Scheele applied for and was hired as the summer business development intern at Weigand. He was primarily responsible for designing print materials, assisting in a major re-branding effort and photographing onsite construction projects. Scheele greatly enjoyed the work and learned much about the construction industry as well as his skill set and future career.

“I learned that I didn’t have to be in a specific industry to get the most out of my education,” Scheele said. “My skills in graphic design translated well to the business development department, and I truly felt like a part of the team.”

His supervisors agreed. “Jacob worked well with others in the company. He was very adaptable and fit right in,” said Chris Sosebee, the director of business development at Weigand.

“The time factor was huge for me,” said Cassidy Hodges, business development coordinator and Scheele’s immediate supervisor. “He executed a lot in a short amount of time, and his reliability allowed me to focus on other duties.”

Scheele’s marketing and design abilities, combined with his soft skills, earned him a spot in the company upon his graduation in May 2019. He also helped open the door for other interns from Grace.

“We will use Jacob as a barometer for future Grace interns,” Sosebee said. “As we continue to grow, there will be a lot of opportunity for more Grace students to incorporate into our company.”

Weigand Construction is among the more than 260 businesses and organizations that partner with Grace College to offer internships and applied learning experiences for students. For more information about these opportunities, call (574) 372-5100, ext. 6101, or email [email protected].