Turning Interaction Design skills into career experience. Sep 9, 2026 Key Points: * Interaction Design student Trey Freeman gained hands-on experience in 3D physical design for electrical substations at his summer internship with Sargent & Lundy. * Support from LVC's Breen Center helped Freeman prepare for the interview and land the internship. * Freeman's internship led to an offer to continue working with Sargent & Lundy next semester. When Trey Freeman '27 transferred to Lebanon Valley College, he was looking for the right academic and athletic fit. He found both, along with an unexpected opportunity to connect his engineering background with a new field of study. A transfer student from Pennsylvania Western University, Freeman came to LVC with three years of experience in Mechatronics. At The Valley, he shifted his academic focus to Interaction Design (IXD), where he found a natural intersection between his technical background and an emphasis on human-centered design, a creative approach to problem solving that starts with the needs of the user. "What stands out most is the strong emphasis on practical application and Human-Centered Design (HCD)," Freeman said. "Coming in with three years of background in Mechatronics, I really appreciate how the program allows me to blend engineering with user experience." That combination proved valuable this summer, when Freeman joined Sargent & Lundy as a Physical Design Intern with the firm's Grid Group in Wilmington, Delaware. Working on FirstEnergy substation projects, Freeman created 3D models and engineering drawings for equipment, assemblies, and subassemblies. His work involved arranging heavy electrical equipment such as transformers, breakers, and bus systems, ensuring proper clearances, and producing construction and fabrication drawings. "It was an awesome hands-on environment and a great way to build on my engineering background," Freeman said. Freeman also expanded his technical skills by learning new software, including Autodesk Inventor. Landing the internship was an important part of Freeman's professional growth, and LVC's Breen Center for Career & Professional Development was there throughout the process. Freeman worked with the center to prepare his resume, practice interviewing, and build confidence before meeting with Sargent & Lundy. "I can't say enough good things about the Breen Center," Freeman said. "From the beginning of the process to the final offer, they were right there." The interview lasted two and a half hours and included conversations about Freeman's interests, previous projects, and research into the company and its work in the electric grid sector. He particularly credits his work with Breen Center staff member Jonathan Lopes for helping him approach the interview with confidence. "Mr. Lopes was a standout mentor for me. He didn't just give me questions to study; he actually prepared me for the reality of the interview," Freeman said. "The biggest takeaway for me was the mindset shift. He helped me build so much confidence that I felt the internship was already mine before I even sat down." For Freeman, the experience demonstrates the value of combining his technical background with his LVC education. "My professional goal is to leverage my technical skills in automation and physical design," he said. "LVC has been great in teaching me how to bridge the gap between technical functionality and user experience." Beyond the classroom, Freeman is a member of the Dutchmen football team, referees for US Soccer, and manages the 21 Legacy Scholarship, which he founded to support graduating students from his former high school. And his summer internship has already opened the door to what's next. Following the conclusion of his internship, Sargent & Lundy offered Freeman a position to remain with the team. He will work with the company during the upcoming semester while continuing his studies at LVC part-time. For Freeman, the experience is another step toward a career that brings together engineering, technology, design, and the human experience. "LVC has given me the tools to combine hardware, software, and the human element effectively," he said.

MGEN taps US, local firms for small modular reactor study. September 2, 2026 | 12:05 am MERALCO PowerGen Corp. (MGEN), a subsidiary of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), has tapped US engineering firm Sargent & Lundy (S&L) and AMH Philippines, Inc. (AMH) to study the potential deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines. Philippine peso tracker Discover more General Reference World news updates In a statement on Tuesday, MGEN said the companies will undertake a comprehensive feasibility study under a $2.8-million technical assistance program funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) earlier this year. MGEN said a working group within the One Meralco group has been formed to lead the study and coordinate with S&L and AMH. "As we advance this USTDA-funded study, MGEN remains committed to exploring safe, reliable, and low-carbon technologies such as SMRs as we work to secure the Philippines' long-term energy future and support the country's economic growth," MGEN President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel V. Rubio said. Under the partnership, S&L will lead a vendor-neutral, US-focused program to assess SMR technologies based on relevant International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards and international best practices, MGEN said. The study will cover technology assessment and site selection, grid integration, financial and commercial planning, decision-making frameworks, and stakeholder capacity building through a series of workshops. MGEN said the study will also seek to strengthen the technical capacity of key stakeholders, including MGEN, the Department of Energy (DoE), and the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority, by providing frameworks and tools to support decision-making as the country advances its nuclear energy roadmap. "The study goes beyond identifying suitable technologies and potential sites. It will also build the technical capacity and decision-making frameworks that can support MGEN and our national stakeholders well beyond the completion of the study," MGEN Head of Strategic Energy Transition Felino M. Bernardo said. The study is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2027, MGEN said. Discover more Business & Industrial Special reports archive In 2022, Meralco applied for a USTDA grant to conduct a feasibility study on SMRs in line with the government's plan to include nuclear energy in the country's power mix to bolster energy security. Since then, Meralco has partnered with foreign companies including Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp., Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Korea Electric Power Corp., and Électricité de France to explore the potential deployment of nuclear technology. The Philippines is targeting 1,200 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power generation capacity by 2032 and an additional 1,400 MW by 2038. Philippine peso tracker Meralco's controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by PLDT Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. - Sheldeen Joy Talavera % buffered Powered by GliaStudios

Meralco, MGEN tap US firms for nuclear SMR study in Philippines. * September 1, 2026 * 0 Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN) have tapped the U.S.-based engineering firm Sargent & Lundy, together with AMH Philippines Inc., to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study on the potential deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the Philippines. The study forms part of a USD 2.8 million technical assistance program funded by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and is targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2027. It is intended to give One Meralco a data-driven basis for determining whether, when, and how SMRs could form part of the country's future energy mix. An SMR, or small modular reactor, is a nuclear reactor designed to produce less power than a conventional large-scale reactor and to be deployed in smaller units. Sargent & Lundy will lead a vendor-neutral, U.S.-focused assessment aligned with relevant International Atomic Energy Agency standards and international best practices. The study will cover technology assessment, potential site selection, grid integration, financial and commercial planning, decision-making frameworks, and stakeholder capacity building. "Partnering with Sargent & Lundy marks a pivotal step in turning our nuclear roadmap into actionable, data-driven decisions under our NEST program," MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio said. As Power Philippines advance this USTDA-funded study, MGEN remains committed to exploring safe, reliable, and low-carbon technologies such as SMRs as Power Philippines work to secure the Philippines' long-term energy future and support the country's economic growth," he added. A dedicated SMR Working Group has also been established within One Meralco to lead the study and coordinate with Sargent & Lundy and AMH throughout the assessment. The engagement is also expected to strengthen the technical capacity of Philippine stakeholders, including MGEN, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Philippine Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (PhilATOM), by providing practical frameworks and tools for future nuclear-energy decisions. "By bringing together a dedicated internal working group, alongside global and local experts, we are undertaking a comprehensive assessment that considers the technical, financial, and regulatory realities of the Philippine setting," MGEN Head of Strategic Energy Transition Felino M. Bernardo said. "The study goes beyond identifying suitable technologies and potential sites. It will also build the technical capacity and decision-making frameworks that can support MGEN and our national stakeholders well beyond the completion of the study," he added. MGEN is exploring nuclear energy alongside its existing portfolio of thermal, liquefied natural gas, solar, and battery energy storage assets. As of July 2026, the company's portfolio represented a combined net saleable capacity of 5,069.7 MW from traditional and renewable sources, along with 56.4 megawatt-hours of battery energy storage systems. The feasibility study does not represent a decision to deploy SMRs just yet. Instead, its findings are expected to provide the technical, financial, commercial, regulatory, and institutional basis for determining whether the technology should advance further in the Philippine setting. With the study targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2027, could SMRs eventually emerge as a viable part of the Philippines' long-term power mix? Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join its Viber community for more news and updates on the Philippine energy sector.