The future of connectivity depends on the people who will design, build and support it. As a US-based manufacturer, Adtran understands the importance of attracting new talent to technology and telecommunications and giving students meaningful opportunities to help strengthen the industry. Co-op and internship programs are an important way to give the next generation hands-on experience while bringing fresh ideas and perspectives into the business.

So what does that experience actually look like? We spoke with current students, program alumni and company leaders about the projects they’ve worked on, the skills they’ve developed and the career paths they’ve discovered along the way. Their stories reveal how skill development, meaningful responsibility and a strong sense of community enable students to grow both professionally and personally.

Meaningful work from day one

For students like Kidder Urban, a third-term hardware design co-op, one of the greatest benefits is the opportunity to contribute to real projects from day one. Rather than receiving isolated assignments, co-ops become integrated members of their teams and work on challenges similar to those handled by full-time employees. As Kidder explains, “They aren’t given side projects – they’re just welcomed into teams as full-time workers.” The goal extends beyond immediate output: students build the skills, experience and confidence to become future contributors and leaders.

Adtran’s student programs are designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional experience. Managers encourage students to ask questions, explore new ideas and understand the reasoning behind their work. The value flows both ways: co-ops and interns gain practical experience, while their fresh perspectives and new ways of thinking help teams challenge assumptions and approach problems differently.

The impact of student work often extends well beyond a single semester. Software test engineering intern Kaiden Samad, for example, developed a full-stack application that remains in production a year later. Rather than completing hypothetical assignments, students contribute to projects that support real business needs. Experiences like this build confidence by showing students that their work matters, while demonstrating the trust Adtran places in its co-ops and interns.

Beyond developing technical skills, many students leave the program with a stronger sense of confidence in their abilities. By contributing to real projects and collaborating with experienced professionals, co-ops and interns gain firsthand experience that helps prepare them for life after graduation. As Mandy Jones, a third-term product management co-op, explains, “It’s so easy to feel like you aren’t ready for the real world, but Adtran has really instilled the confidence in me to move forward.”

Discovering unexpected career paths

While many students join Adtran through technical roles, the programs offer opportunities across a variety of disciplines in an industry they may not have previously considered. That exposure often helps students better understand where they want to build their careers. 

For Grace Marcopulos, what began as an internship evolved into a full-time role in marketing. Today, she says the program “has given me a career I never once thought I would be in... Now I love my job, and I love the people I get to work with.” Her story reflects a broader theme shared throughout the interviews: sometimes the most valuable part of a co-op term or internship is discovering possibilities you didn't know existed.

Students aren’t given side projects. They’re welcomed into teams as full-time workers.

A sense of community also emerged as a recurring theme throughout the interviews. For many co-ops and interns, the experience involves more than learning a new role; it may also mean moving to an unfamiliar city and building a support network from scratch. Game nights, movie nights and other social activities give students opportunities to connect outside work and form lasting relationships. 

Anirudha Reddy, a finance intern who relocated from California, reflected on how the experience pushed him beyond his comfort zone: “Being alone isn’t the easiest thing, especially if you don’t know anyone in a city and you’re there for the first time. But it really pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and explore new things with new people. That’s been a new experience for me. I learned about myself more.” 

Experiences like these help students feel welcomed and supported while building confidence both professionally and personally.

From co-op to industry leadership

For some participants, the path from classroom to career comes full circle at Adtran. Andy Ruble began as a co-op and progressed through increasingly impactful roles before becoming GM of access and aggregation. His story shows how a semester of hands-on learning can become the foundation for a long-term career. 

Early exposure to different areas of the business helped Andy build technical expertise and leadership skills over time. Looking back, he describes the co-op program as an opportunity to gain a broad range of experience and attributes much of his growth to a culture that supports innovation and career development. As he puts it, “There’s no glass ceiling holding you back.”

Across the stories of current students, alumni and leaders who began in the program themselves, one message is clear: meaningful growth happens when students are trusted to take on new challenges, ask questions and step beyond their comfort zones. Whether they are developing software used in production, discovering an unexpected career path, building community in a new city or growing into leadership, each experience helps prepare the people who will move technology and telecommunications forward.

That commitment to students hasn’t gone unnoticed outside Adtran, either. Tennessee Technological University’s Center for Career Development named Adtran its co-op/internship employer of the year for 2025-2026, citing a high volume of student rotations, multi-semester experiences, and excellent benefits and communication. The university singled out Hannah Reese and the Adtran team for providing what it called “a stellar co-op experience,” noting that computer science majors and others have connected with meaningful work-integrated learning placements at Adtran.

From classroom to career, one theme holds steady across every story: at Adtran, students aren’t watching from the sidelines. They are contributing from day one, building the networks that connect communities and beginning careers that can help shape the future of the industry.

Watch the video to hear more stories from Adtran students and alumni, then explore opportunities to build your career with Adtran.