Meet Stephanie Ramirez

Expected graduation year: 2026

Home town: Wichita, Kansas

During the summer of 2025, Stephanie Ramirez has an internship with Mars, Inc. in Topeka, Kansas.

What are your responsibilities at your internship?

The main project that I work on is improving the quality of products produced on-site. I learn the process, talk with different teams to try and determine the root cause and potential solutions, then implement the best solution. I also explore other parts of the company through planned meetings Mars hosts for the interns, as well as reaching out and talking to other associates about what they do for the company.

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

Aside from the obvious fact that I work in a candy factory, I enjoy the challenge of my project and the people who are on-site with me. My project isn’t what I expected it to be, so being able to see the manufacturing process from more than one perspective has been interesting. The people on-site have been super helpful and welcoming, regardless of what position they’re in.

What opportunities has your internship provided you?

I’ve had the opportunity to see multiple different product lines. The factory I’m at has five different lines, so getting a tour of each made me realize how much I know about processing and how different processes can be used in a variety of circumstances. Additionally, it has given me the opportunity to go in-depth with certain aspects of the process, giving me a more robust understanding of the day-to-day operations and how that can affect the product that goes to the consumer.

How will your internship impact your future career?

Doing this has made me realize that I would rather work at a consumer packaged goods (CPG) company, where products go straight to the consumer, instead of an ingredient company. Making candy is surprisingly complex, so being able to draw from that experience will be helpful in the future.

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

Be open to opportunities that weren’t what you initially saw for yourself. Some careers that align with food science majors are very competitive, so be comfortable with taking the long road to get to your dream job. If you get there and you decide that’s not what you want anymore, make sure you’re in a place where you can keep exploring and growing.