At SDN Communications, internships aren’t about sitting on the sidelines. Our interns get hands-on experience from day one and have the opportunity to work directly with our teams. They contribute just like full-time employees.
This summer, we had the opportunity to work with four talented interns: One in the Marketing Department, marketing, one in Application Development (App Dev), one in our Field Services Team and one in our Network Operations Center (NOC).
Here’s a look at what they had to say about their time with us:
Houston Mueller, Application Development
What was your role during the internship?
I worked as part of the Application Development team. At the beginning of the summer, I made some minor updates to already existing software. After the first few weeks, I helped build a brand-new application to collect various types of data related to the network equipment that makes up SDN's large network and store it in a SQL Database.
What accomplishment during your internship are you most proud of?
The new program I helped build was primarily built by me. I had tremendous help and guidance from members of the App Dev team, but I am definitely proud with how much I was able to contribute to a sizeable project. Early on, I also managed to spot a couple of issues in a piece of software, which I was then able to fix.
What surprised you the most about your internship?
I was most surprised by how much I learned. I of course knew I was going to learn a lot going into the internship, but within the first few weeks I felt like I learned more about C# and .NET than I ever knew before started. I also learned a ton about the development lifecycle as well.
What’s next for you?
With this internship, I finished the last 3 credits I need to complete my bachelor's in computer science from DSU. I will now be exploring full-time opportunities in South Dakota and surrounding states. I also am looking at possibly continuing with my schooling to get my master’s in computer science from DSU.
Keaton Harvey, Field Service Technician
What was your role during the internship?
I was a field service intern; I would go on site and complete the task. We had many different tasks such as installation, recovery and physical troubleshooting. I traveled all over South Dakota and the surrounding states performing these tasks. When I wasn’t traveling there were many things to do at the office.
What accomplishment during your internship are you most proud of?
The thing I’m most proud of during my internship is when we have problems in the field and I have to solve the problems and think of many different ways of troubleshooting. There are a lot of times when projects don’t go according to plan, and I have to work on my feet. No project is like the last, and it makes every day more fun and constantly changing. There is always something more you can learn, and I enjoy that aspect.
What surprised you the most about your internship?
I am surprised with how much there is to learn in this industry if you apply yourself. Internet is like magic, and it takes a lot of time to understand it. I still have a lot to learn, and I look forward to learning new parts and understanding it better.
What’s next for you?
I have one more year at Mitchell Tech’s Wi-Fi and broadband program then once I graduate, I will be back at SDN working full time.
Abby Johnson, Marketing
What was your role during the internship?
I worked as the Marketing Intern at SDN Communications this summer. In this role, I had the opportunity to contribute to both internal and external projects by designing marketing materials, producing event assets, and writing blog content. I was trusted with real responsibilities and got to see my work directly support the team’s goals and outreach.
What accomplishment during your internship are you most proud of?
I'm especially proud of my contributions to the Sioux Falls Golf Classic event. I helped design signage, print materials, and branded giveaways for the tournament. Seeing everything come together on event day was incredibly rewarding. It was a great blend of creativity, collaboration, and hands-on production, and I loved being a part of it.
What surprised you the most about your internship?
I was surprised by the level of trust and creative freedom I was given as an intern. From day one, I was treated like a valued team member and was encouraged to share ideas, take initiative, and own my projects. It was empowering to know that my contributions were seen and appreciated.
What’s next for you?
After this summer, I will have officially completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from South Dakota State University. I will continue working with the SDN Communications marketing team into early fall, focusing on design elements for the upcoming SoDak Circuit esports event. Following that, I plan to continue my job search for a full-time graphic design position, ideally in the Minneapolis area. Moving forward, I am excited to keep learning, growing, and contributing to another creative team.
Lucas Harr, Network Operations
What was your role during the internship?
I was working with the Data Operations team most of the time, but I would bounce over to the Managed Services team if they had any projects for me to work on. With the Data side, I would work on whatever I could get my hands on. I would drive to a cell site to troubleshoot, run new fibers at the main office, or do some configuration on the machines. For Managed Services, I investigated some vulnerabilities on customer networks, which required me to get familiar with Fortinet firewalls and gear, and I helped configure some new gear for them as well.
What accomplishment during your internship are you most proud of?
The accomplishment I am most proud of is that the team trusts me to do tasks on my own. If they need some fibers ran, they know they can count on me, and I will do it correctly. Or if they need something fixed at a site out of town, they can count on me to get the job done. I am proud that I gained the knowledge and skills to work independently and help out the team.
What surprised you the most about your internship?
What surprised me the most is just how complex the internet is, and all the components that go into it. It really takes a whole team with a ton of knowledge to keep the network running, and everyone here is extremely knowledgeable and great to work with. Everyone was very approachable and willing to help with any questions I had and wanted me to get the most out of the internship. I had never worked with fiber or any enterprise network equipment, and the team here made it easy to understand and learn.
What’s next for you?
I graduated from Dakota State University in May 2025 with a major in Cyber Operations and a minor in Network Security Administration. I am going for a master's degree in computer science with a specialization in AI this fall and hoping to complete that spring 2026. I think AI is the future, and I hope to be able to use what I learn and contribute to the world of AI in some way. I am not sure where that will be, but we'll see what the future brings.
