WORKFORCE HIGHLIGHT: MidAmerica’s STEM Partnerships Guide Claremore Student to Engineering Career
10/22/2025
MidAmerica Industrial Park’s education partnerships are designed to help students explore careers, gain skills and prepare for the workforce. Claremore native Ryne Vance is a strong example of how these programs support students from high school through college.
Vance began his pathway at Northeast Technology Center in Claremore, where he enrolled in the pre-engineering program. Through that program, MidAmerica identified him as a candidate for the STEM Internship Program. His 13-month internship included six weeks between his junior and senior years dedicated to tours of universities and industries, helping him better understand the range of careers available in engineering. During that time, he also took concurrent classes at Rogers State University while completing high school at Claremore.
Through MidAmerica’s program, Vance interned at both MidAmerica and Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). While at GRDA, he and fellow intern Ashton Keegan designed and 3D-printed a model of Pensacola Dam to demonstrate the principles of hydroelectricity. The project combined design software with advanced prototyping and showcased the value of connecting education with real-world applications.
“My internships gave me the chance to take what I was learning in school and apply it in real time,” Vance said. “Working on projects that moved from design to prototype showed me that engineering is not just about theory — it is about solving practical problems and making an impact.”
His time at GRDA also reinforced the importance of industry partnerships that give students meaningful, hands-on experience.
“Partnering with MidAmerica to host interns like Ryne is an opportunity to invest in Oklahoma’s future workforce,” said Robert Ladd, vice president of generation operations at Grand River Dam Authority. “The project he worked on at GRDA demonstrated how hands-on experience prepares students with the skills and confidence they will carry into high-demand careers in engineering and technology.”
After graduating from Claremore High School in 2023, Vance enrolled at Oklahoma State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. While at OSU, he continued to build on his earlier experiences through a summer internship at Dvorak Instruments, a company that develops simulated recoil training equipment. There, he applied his CAD skills to design and prototype a magazine capable of housing a CO2 pressure vessel, a project that required precision modeling, testing and adjustments to ensure both accuracy and usability.
“Ryne’s pathway highlights exactly why we invest in these programs,” said Scott Fry, director of workforce development at MidAmerica. “By connecting students with resources, mentors and meaningful projects, we are preparing the future engineers and innovators our region needs.”
From Northeast Tech to OSU, Vance’s story demonstrates how MidAmerica’s partnerships with educators and employers create clear pathways for students to discover their passions and pursue careers in STEM.