Montana Tech student finds perfect summer internship at Career Fair

Logan Ruegsegger headed into the Fall 2024 Career Fair at Montana Technological University determined to find the right summer internship. The junior civil engineering student spoke with several potential employers, but when she connected with the recruiter for NW Construction, a heavy civil construction company out of Bozeman, something felt right.

“It just clicked,” Ruegsegger said.

Ruegsegger, of Great Falls, spent her summer learning the ins and outs of construction and mining through an internship at Sibanye-Stillwater’s East Boulder Mine, located near McLeod. Once on site, she quickly found herself immersed in every aspect of the job.

“I ran haul trucks, I ran graders, I helped with welding, I was on the excavation crew—it was really hands-on,” she said. “I learned a lot more than I ever expected going into it.”

One of Ruegsegger’s main projects was helping engineer and construct a large retaining wall that helps hold tailings in place at the East Boulder Mine. She assisted with surveying and layout, worked alongside crews to place geogrid and backfill, and observed how design decisions translated into field construction. The experience gave her a firsthand look at the challenges of stabilizing slopes and managing drainage, skills that connect directly to her civil engineering coursework. The variety of work gave her a deeper appreciation for both construction and safety practices in the field. She said her supervisors encouraged her to try new roles while always keeping safety first.

“I realized how important teamwork and communication are on a job site,” Ruegsegger said. “It made me a better engineer.”

Ruegsegger also enjoyed the wide variety of wildlife she saw near the mine site, which is surrounded by the Custer Gallatin National Forest. She was able to fish in the nearby Boulder River when she was off the clock, and saw a bear on her drive to and from work almost every day.

“I loved it,” Ruegsegger said. “It was gorgeous out there.”

The internship was paid, and NW Construction has already invited her back for next summer.

The internship helped her see her career path more clearly. Prior to the internship, she never thought she’d want to work in mining, even though she’s a member of the Montana Tech Mining Team.

“I didn’t think I’d love mining as much as I did,” Ruegsegger said. “It was an amazing experience.”

Montana Tech will hold its 25th annual Career Fair on Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the HPER and SSC.