Meet Scott McCord

Major: Food Science and Industry, minor in Bakery Science

Expected graduation year: 2027

Home town: Plano, Texas

During the summer of 2025, Scott McCord has an internship with Dawn Foods in Jackson, Michigan.

What are your responsibilities at your internship?

My main responsibility is to visit different Dawn Foods customers to assist and troubleshoot any problems their bakeries may be facing. The bakeries I’ve gotten to work in are sometimes small, artisanal bakeries, but I’ve also worked in large manufacturing plants.

What’s one of your favorite things about your internship?

One of my favorite things is the opportunity to travel to different areas. I meet a lot of people with different baking styles. I get to know them and help make their products or systems better. Every week, I have something new to do.

What’s an opportunity your internship has provided you?

I got to visit Iowa and assist in the creation of a new product that will soon be in grocery stores. I also got to see the facility where all of Hy-Vee’s cookies, brownies and bar-baked products are made and shipped across the country.

How will your internship impact your future career?

It has given me insight into the industry. I’ve met different people and have gotten their perspective on how to achieve my future goals and where I want to end up in my career.

What advice do you have for those looking to get an internship next summer?

My advice is to start as soon as possible. Go to the career fair, talk to people and different companies. It can help you with networking, and even if you don’t get an internship with them, you still made a connection that you might be able to use later.

What advice do you have for someone looking to be in the same field as you?

Go in with an open mind and try everything you can. If you have classes that might relate to your desired field, really try to learn from those classes because they can give you a head start before the internship begins.