Three Students Selected for AIST Steel Intern Scholarship

JONESBORO – Three Arkansas State University students will receive hands-on, real-world learning with a paid, summer-long internship in the steel industry.

The Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) Steel Intern Scholarship helps match students with a steel-producing or steel-related internship and awards students a $4,000 academic scholarship to use towards their education.

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The recipients are listed below:

Caden Grimmett, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering from Wilson.

Sam Morris, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering from Jonesboro.

Kimberly Patterson, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering from McGehee.

“The scholarships give students the opportunity for high-impact, real-world experience in the steel industry. This improves their career readiness. Some of the recipients will stay somewhat local for their internships,” said Dr. Drew Fleming, associate professor of mechanical engineering.

AIST has a long and successful history of A-State students achieving the scholarship.

“This is actually the seventh steel intern scholarship that has been awarded to an A-State student,” Fleming adds. “We’re very appreciative that the AIST Foundation has recognized the potential our students have for careers in the steel industry, and my expectation is that we will continue to have recipients of the scholarship on an annual basis.”

Grimmett and Morris are new recipients of the scholarship. While Patterson, a two-time recipient, is still awaiting to hear where she will be interning this summer, she says this is a great way to get her name out.

“I want to work in the steel industry after college. I think this experience will help me gain the skills and network I need to further my career. The network and opportunities I have because of the scholarship will also help me in applying for jobs after college,” said Patterson.

The award coincides with the recent launch in fall 2025 of the 12-credit certificate program in advanced materials and manufacturing in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.