Chase McCluskey’s attitude toward engineering formed early.
The Ohio Northern University student recalls meticulously constructing a motorized LEGO truck model as a child, but when he turned it on, it didn’t work.
“Instead of giving up, I took the entire model apart, piece by piece, and rebuilt it from scratch, paying close attention to every detail until I found the mistake,” he says. “When it finally worked, I realized how rewarding it was to solve complex problems through anticipation, patience, and persistence.”
Encouraged by his parents, Chase gradually shifted his focus from mechanical builds to computers. He’s now an ONU computer science major with a minor in applied mathematics.
This summer, he is working at JPMorgan Chase in Columbus, Ohio, as a Software Engineering Program (SEP) intern. He’s tackling technology projects ranging from cloud services and APIs to databases, cybersecurity, automation, and enterprise application development.
Before applying for the internship, he took part in JPMorgan Chase’s “Code for Good Hackathon,” working alongside other students to develop a software solution under tight deadlines. That experience laid the groundwork for his internship offer, he says.
ONU supported him throughout the process. “I truly believe my internship is the result of both the education I received at ONU and the relationships I built with faculty who continually encouraged me to push myself beyond the classroom.”
His colleagues at JPMorgan Chase are also supportive, he says. “Beyond the technical work, I have been trusted to contribute alongside experienced engineers while participating in design discussions and decisions, code reviews, planning sessions, and collaborative problem-solving.”
It’s a rewarding learning experience, he adds.
“Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned is that curiosity is one of the greatest strengths an engineer can have,” he says. “Asking thoughtful questions, seeking feedback, and continually trying to understand why something works, not just how it works, has accelerated my growth.”
