In this Scholar-Athlete Spotlight, we are featuring Alex Doeringer-Smith of Florida Tech men's rowing. This summer, the Lakeland, Florida, native is gaining meaningful experience at an internship in his desired field. We caught up with Mohr to learn more about the incredible opportunity.

What company are you interning for this summer? What is your title and role with the company?
"I am interning for the Lee County Port Authority, in Airport Operations and Emergency Management at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida."

What drew you to this internship? What steps did you have to take to earn your position within the company?
"I was drawn to this internship because I've always been eager to learn more about airports and expand my overall knowledge of the aviation industry. The chance to get hands-on experience in such a dynamic environment really stood out to me. To earn this position, I had to write a paper about the airport, showcasing my understanding and interest in its operations, and then go through a standard interview process to be selected for the role."

What are some exciting tasks or projects that you have been able to be a part of?
"So far, I've had the opportunity to be involved in a variety of hands-on tasks that have given me a deeper understanding of airport operations. I've conducted airfield inspections to help ensure safety and compliance, assisted with cataloguing important airport equipment, and contributed to the development of safety bulletins that support daily operations. Each task has allowed me to play a small but meaningful role in maintaining the efficiency and safety of the airport environment."
 
What is your major at Florida Tech? Why did you choose this direction for your education and is this something you always wanted to pursue?
"I'm majoring in Aviation Management with Flight because becoming an airline pilot has been a lifelong goal of mine. I've always been fascinated by aviation. It's the perfect combination of hands-on flight training and academic knowledge, and it's something I've been passionate about pursuing for as long as I can remember."

How has being a scholar-athlete prepared you for the work you are currently doing in your internship? What skills have you taken from your time as a scholar-athlete that help you in your internship?
"Being a scholar athlete has helped me prepare for this internship a lot. My position as a coxswain on the rowing team has helped me develop a range of skills, including situational awareness, attention to detail, multitasking, and problem-solving. All of these skills are essential for my internship now. The internship is helping me get ready for the next year on the boat and on the water by keeping those skills, as mentioned earlier, sharp.

How is your internship preparing you for a career you would like to do after graduation?
"This internship is providing a valuable foundation for my future career in aviation by giving me real-world insight into how airports, airlines, and the industry as a whole operate on a day-to-day basis."

What advice would you give another scholar-athlete/prospective scholar-athlete who is looking to pursue a similar path?
"If another scholar-athlete wanted to pursue a similar path, I would recommend they go to class, talk to their professors, and then learn from them. Not only did they help me secure the internship in the first place, but the knowledge they taught me in their classes is now being applied to the real world every day."