The Akamai Internship Program, renowned for its commitment to fostering local talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), continues to shape the future of Hawai`i’s tech industry. This summer, four exceptional students, each with a unique background and aspirations, have shared their transformative experiences with the program, highlighting the impact of hands-on projects, mentorship, and community building.
Figure 1: Group photo of the Akamai interns and their mentors of Subaru Telescope. (Credit: NAOJ)
Ryu Young: From Legos to Engineering Innovations
Ryu Young, a senior Electrical Engineering student at the University of Hawai`i at Manoa, attributes much of his academic success to the early influence of his high school engineering teacher, Brian Silva. Born and raised in Hawai`i and an alumnus of Kalani High School, Young's passion for engineering began with his childhood fascination with building things, especially Legos. During his Akamai Internship, Ryu worked on a portable test station for sensors at the Subaru Telescope, combining hands-on testing with programming skills in Python.
“The prep course in the first week was invaluable, and the hands-on experience has been incredible,” Ryu says. “My mentors, Lucio Ramos and Michael Lemmen, have been guiding me in the right direction throughout the internship. Looking ahead, I’m excited to dive deeper into my senior projects, especially the autonomous electrical ecosystem delivery robot at UH Manoa.”
Ryu’s future plans include staying in Hawai`i post-graduation, ideally working in robotics or a related field. His advice to aspiring engineers: “Engineering is about discipline and persistence. Keep pushing forward, and you’ll be fine.”
Maile Brilhante: From Tennis Courts to Computer Science
Maile Brilhante, born and raised in Hilo, Hawai`i and currently a senior at Utah State University majoring in Computer Science, was drawn to the Akamai Program by her father’s suggestion. As a member of the Utah State Women’s Tennis team, Maile has balanced her athletic and academic pursuits, finding a supportive community in both areas.
“I loved that the Akamai Internship allowed me to return to Hawai`i for the summer,” Maile shares. “Working at Subaru Telescope and meeting other students with similar career goals was an amazing experience. I’m working on a spectrograph data reduction project using a new Python package, which has opened up so many opportunities for me.” Maile worked with Subaru Telescope mentors Russell Kackley, Eric Jeschke, and Kentaro Aoki.
Looking ahead, Maile hopes to return to Hawai`i to work in software engineering, possibly at Subaru, and encourages high school students to “just go for it” in pursuing a career in computer science. She emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with professors and peers.
Julia Hutchison: Empowered by Diversity in STEM
Julia Hutchison, a junior at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, discovered her passion for Computer Science (CS) after exploring other fields and realizing that CS matched how she thinks. Growing up in Honolulu, Julia has found comfort in the diversity and support she has encountered in the South, especially from female mentors.
“CS allows you to create anything from just your fingertips,” Julia says. “The Akamai Program has been an eye-opening experience, showing me that there are opportunities in Hawai`i, including Hilo and Maui, that I hadn’t considered before.”
Julia’s internship project focused on enhancing the functionality of Subaru’s telescope simulator, and she is grateful for the hands-on mentorship from Russell Kackley and Eric Jeschke. Her advice to aspiring CS students: “CS takes grit. You’ll encounter errors, so learn how to debug and keep an open mind.”
Figure 3: (left to right) Russell Kackley, Julia Hutchison , Maile Brilhante, and Eric Jeschke. (Credit: NAOJ)
Nichole Cavada: Securing the Future in Cyber Security
Nichole Cavada, a Cyber Security student at the University of Hawai`i West Oahu, has a clear vision for her future. After moving to Hawai`i from the Philippines in 2016, Nichole’s interest in programming evolved into a passion for cyber security. Her Akamai Internship project involved optimizing network wireless connectivity at the Subaru Telescope, a crucial task given the outdated technology currently in use.
“The goal of my project is to determine whether to upgrade to WIFI 6 or WIFI 7, which will significantly improve data transmission speeds and reduce network congestion,” Nichole explains. “My mentors, Brendan Hora and Kiaina Schubert, have been instrumental in helping me understand the intricacies of the facility’s network."
After graduating in December, Nichole plans to pursue a career as a Systems Analyst, either in Honolulu or on the mainland. Her advice to future cyber security students: “Be passionate about what you do. There’s a lot to learn, but with passion, you can overcome any challenge.”
About the Akamai Internship Program
The Akamai Internship Program offers college students from Hawai`i an opportunity to gain summer work experience at an observatory, company or scientific/technical facility in Hawai`i during an eight-week program. This program is led by the Institute for Scientist & Engineer Educators at University of California Observatories, in partnership with University of Hawai`i.
For more information about the Akamai Internship Program, please visit www.akamaihawaii.org.
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