2 recent Piedmont Technical College graduates chosen for prestigious internships

Two recent Piedmont Technical College (PTC) graduates who are pursuing careers in cybersecurity will serve as interns this summer with a pair of federal agencies.

Juan De Leon Gonzalez will travel to Golden, Colorado, to intern at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Kenderrius Hackett is heading to Charleston to take part in the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program.

Gonzalez graduated from PTC in spring 2023 with an associate in applied science, major in computer technology, programming concentration. He also received an associate in applied science, major in computer technology, cybersecurity concentration in spring 2024. He currently works as a PTC help desk technician.

Hackett graduated from PTC in summer 2024 with an associate in science and he is now working on his bachelor’s degree at Lander University.

Gonzalez and Hackett said PTC Career Coordinator Stephanie Greer told them about the internships that they eventually were chosen for this summer.

A short time after filling out an application that included an essay and completing a virtual interview, Gonzalez was notified that he had been selected for the internship at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This marks the first time that he will spend months away from home.

“It is exciting, but it makes me a little anxious as well,” he said. “My dad was crying about it , but he told me, ‘I got to let you grow. You’ve got to explore.’”

Gonzalez said he expects to spend the summer doing research on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity research, along with some computer coding and abstract writing. He also hopes to make a side trip to the Grand Canyon.

Hackett also will be doing cybersecurity research at the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic.

“The reason I applied for it is because I was trying to get experience in the cybersecurity field,” he said. “I was very excited when I got it.”

Hackett, who previously completed an internship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Columbia, aspires to work at a federal agency like the FBI, Central Intelligence Agency or the Department of Defense. 

By focusing on ways to “protect the country,” Hackett said, “I’ll be able to get up and want to go to work in the morning.”

Hackett, who is still looking for a place to live in Charleston for the summer, said he looks forward to new experiences on his internship.

“The more you see, the more you know you can do,” he said.

Visit https://www.ptc.edu/academics/areas-of-study/computer-technology to learn more about PTC’s Computer Technology program.