Meet Our Summer Interns
September 4, 2014
Over the summer Water Missions International (WMI) was proud to work with a talented group of young people in our Charleston international headquarters. This group was so outstanding we couldn’t resist the chance to introduce you to them!
Julia Sherry
Community Development Intern
From: Dublin, Ohio
College: Virginia Tech, Class of 2015
Major: International Studies and Environmental Policy & Planning
Why did you want to intern at WMI:
During my freshman year of college, God gave me a passion for the water crisis. Since then, I have wanted to use my life and my career to do something about this problem. I wanted to intern at WMI in particular because the technologies and the community development strategies implemented by WMI are best in class, which means this organization does everything possible to set up communities all around the world to have sustainable access to safe water for life. I was also drawn to WMI because of the integration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into every aspect of this organization, because in the Gospel, God not only satisfies our every thirst, but also has the power to permanently transform lives and restore things that are broken.
Favorite responsibility:
Doing solid research in order to benefit WMI community development strategies.
Best spot in Charleston:
The deck of Jay’s boat during Wednesday night sailing races in the harbor!
Max Wurthmann
Engineering & Business Intern
From: Charleston, SC
College: Furman University, Class of 2015
Major: Business Administration
How does your summer project help the people we serve?
I was responsible for testing various materials for chlorinator tops to different pressures. This testing will hopefully provide a solution to prevent future tops from breaking in the field. If the chlorinator tops are breaking in the field the Living WaterTM Treatment System can’t run. If the LWTSTM can’t run, people don’t have clean, safe water.
What is your favorite part of working at WMI?
Seeing so many people who are passionate about their work
Best spot in Charleston:
Beach on Sullivan’s Island
Mackenzie Blum
Production Intern
From: Sanford, NC
College: NC State University, Class of 2015
Major: Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Why did you want to intern at WMI:
I have always had a passion for the water crisis and learning how I can become part of the solution. I was so excited to find out about WMI and see how I could combine my engineering skills, passion for people, and love for the Lord all to help people who I may never have the opportunity to meet.
What is your favorite part of working at WMI:
Huddle (morning staff meeting) was by far my favorite part of working at WMI. There is something so energizing about starting the day praying with your fellow coworkers. I loved getting to hear about everyone's victories so I knew a little bit more about what everyone was working on. I think that Huddle really brings the staff together in a unique way and reminds everyone at the start of the day who is really the center of the organization. By focusing our eyes on Christ in the morning we are automatically surrendering our day to His will which is such a powerful thing.
Best spot in Charleston:
Anywhere, as long as you are on the Tohido with Captain Jay!
Brooke Wible
Engineering Intern
From: Jessup, MD
College: Geneva College, Class of 2015
Major: Environmental Engineering
Why did you want to intern at WMI:
Last summer, I interned with Water Missions Uganda (WMU). I loved learning about WMI's work at in-country program offices: assessment, design, implementation, community development, and monitoring of safe water systems. I was able to participate in the design and implementation of one project, St. Francis Hospital Buluba, and was thankful that the Lord provided some very meaningful work. Since high school, implementing clean water systems in other countries has been a passion, and the Lord confirmed that passion in my internship with WMU. This summer, I wanted to learn about WMI's headquarters in Charleston to see how the WMI team in the States supports those in the field. It has been a great opportunity to see how country programs and headquarters interact, as well as to learn more about the importance of standards in engineering design that Charleston generates.
How does your summer project impact the people we serve?
This summer I tested three different pumps powered by a solar array to experimentally determine the how much water a pump can produce in a single day (or the total daily water production). This project was intended to determine if the current WMI method of calculating total daily water production well represents the results that might be seen in the field. We saw that WMI's method is not only simpler, but also more accurate. I also evaluated some of the assumptions that WMI makes when designing a system using a solar powered pump, like our safety factor and number of peak solar hours in a day. If these assumptions were not reasonable, then the safe water systems we build in the field would not provide enough water to the communities in which we work. After evaluating our method, we concluded that it is indeed reasonable and slightly conservative, which means that the way in which WMI designs systems will provide plenty of water to the communities we serve.
Best spot in Charleston:
Jay's sailboat in the harbor!
We were also privileged to have another engineering intern, Ben Mason, Georgia Tech ‘15, join our Charleston staff over the summer.
Photos courtesy of Tracy Williams
Our thanks to all of our incredible summer interns! Grateful you gave up a summer to partner with us in transforming lives. We wish you the best!
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