Eduardo Yepiz is a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame studying Computer Science. He is from Nogales, AZ and participated in the CCI Winter Internship during the 2020-2021 academic year as well as the CCI Summer internship program during the 2021 summer.
How did this experience affect your view and attachment to the South Bend/ Elkhart region?
Prior to working with CCI, my involvement with the South Bend / Elkhart region was very limited. After a couple of months of experience, both during the winter and summer session internships, I feel that I hold a much bigger role within the community now. Working with local members, such as Elkhart Community Schools and THOR Industries, in support of causes that I am passionate about has been an excellent opportunity to learn from and develop alongside the community. The South Bend / Elkhart region has contributed to my personal and professional development in tremendous ways, and I am glad that I was able to contribute back in small yet meaningful ways.
What was the most rewarding experience in the program?
Undoubtedly, the most rewarding experience in the program was working with such an outstanding group of people. My team members and I got along extremely well. We learned plenty about each other and felt comfortable working together. This dramatically increased our efficiency and ability to get things done for the project. I seriously could not have asked for a better group of people to work with. Saying that I had a lot of fun working with them in the past few weeks would be an understatement.
How did your experience in the program enhance your academic and professional goals?
Accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy has been my passion for as long as I can remember. Working at Tesla in the electric automotive industry is my dream job, so when I found out about the opportunity to work with THOR Industries in their search for better end-of-life-cycle sustainability practices I immediately jumped at it. Thus far the experience has been wonderful. I have learned plenty about the recreational vehicle industry and about sustainability by working alongside local professionals who have helped us immensely. This aspect of the internship has especially developed my professional goals and passion for a world where the environment is a priority.