National Intern Day is an opportunity to celebrate the interns who bring curiosity, determination, and fresh perspectives to H&P every summer. Through hands-on experiences and guidance from mentors across the company, interns gain a deeper understanding of our operations, our culture, and the people who make H&P successful. 

For field interns Alex Koop and Faith Branstetter, this summer has been filled with long days, steep learning curves, and experiences that can’t be replicated in a classroom. 

Alex Koop is a junior, chemical engineering student from the University of Oklahoma. Alex spent his summer working on Rig 528 in DeSoto, Louisiana.  

Faith Branstetter is a junior, petroleum engineering student from the University of Oklahoma. Faith spent her summer on Rig 427 outside of Canadian, Oklahoma.   

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

For Alex, the journey began with a six-hour drive to location, followed by a 12-hour night shift on a rig floor for the very first time. 

“I’ll be honest. I had no idea what I was walking into,” Alex said. 

Despite having no field experience, Alex quickly discovered he wouldn’t be spending the hitch watching from the sidelines. 

“From day one the crew made it clear I was there to be part of the team, not just watch from the sidelines,” Alex said. 

Throughout his first hitch, Alex gained exposure to nearly every phase of a drilling operation, from running pipe and operating equipment to helping prepare the rig for teardown and inspection. Along the way, he found himself connecting concepts from his chemical engineering coursework to real-world operations. 

“I’ve studied pressure control in chemical engineering coursework, but seeing the equipment in front of you and understanding the real consequences if it fails is a completely different thing,” Alex said. 

One of the biggest influences on Alex’s experience was his driller and mentor, Adam “Cookie” Westby, who challenged him to think beyond simply completing tasks and instead understand the reasoning behind every decision. 

“The most valuable thing I learned about this hitch is that knowing what something does is not the same as understanding it,” Alex said. 

Beyond the technical lessons, Alex saw H&P’s safety culture take shape in everyday interactions. 

“The most important thing H&P’s SSE program communicated from the start is that safety at H&P is a culture, not a checklist,” Alex said. 

By the end of the hitch, Alex had gained not only operational experience, but also a deeper appreciation for the teamwork, mentorship and culture that define life on a rig. 

Building Confidence in the Field  

Meanwhile, Faith’s first hitch was every bit as eventful as it was memorable. 

“Well, I made it through my first hitch. Overall, the experience was so much fun. I am ready to go back,” Faith said. 

Faith embraced every challenge that came her way. From blackouts and equipment failures to long days handling chemicals and running hoists, helping wherever she was needed, she built a reputation as someone her crew could count on. 

“Over the course of the two weeks, I proved myself as a valuable asset to the team, and a teammate that always has your back and will keep the crew safe,” Faith said. 

What stood out most to Faith wasn’t just the work itself, but the relationships she built with her crew. As the hitch progressed, what began as introductions evolved into trust, mentorship and friendship. 

“After day four, my crew decided that I was worth the investment, that I was part of their family,” Faith said. 

Like Alex, Faith highlighted the impact of the people around her. Crew members took the time to teach, answer questions and help her grow, while also making sure she felt welcomed and supported. 

The experience reinforced something both interns discovered firsthand: success in the field depends on teamwork, continuous learning and a willingness to jump in wherever help is needed. 

Reflecting on her first hitch, Faith summed it up simply: 

“The days are long, my feet are tired, my body is exhausted most days, but there is nowhere else I would rather be than out there working as hard as I can,” Faith said. 

Experiences like Alex’s and Faith’s demonstrate the value of H&P’s internship program, providing meaningful opportunities to learn, contribute and grow alongside some of the best people in the industry. 

This National Intern Day, we thank all of our interns for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to learning. We also extend our gratitude to the mentors, crews and teams across H&P who invest in their success every day. Your guidance helps turn internships into experiences that can shape a career. 

2026 U.S. Intern Class 

Name	College	H&P Location
Alex Kopp	University of Oklahoma	Rig 528
Faith Branstetter	University of Oklahoma	Rig 427
Gaby Masak	Georgia Institute of Technology	Rig 459
Eric Mashburn	Oklahoma State University	Rig 420
Luke Clay	University of Oklahoma	Rig 388
Nicholas Black	Texas A&M University	Rig 650
Jacque Hunter	Texas Tech University	Rig 472
Ayden Woods	Oklahoma State University	Rig 300
Zain Hafeez	Texas A&M University	Rig 268
Ruskin Bell	University of Tulsa	Odessa Field Services
Thao Ngyuen	Loyola University	Cybersecurity
Mason Eberle	Benedictine College	Business Operations, West texas
Abigail Dunaway	Texas A&M University	Performance Engineering, West Texas
Alexander Johnson	University of Tulsa	Drilling Performance
Parker Manley	University of Texas	Performance Engineering, South Texas
Brayen Horton	West Texas A&M University	FlexRig Engineering
Brady Gresham	University of Arkansas	FlexRig Machinery Center
Aux Devarapalli	University of Southern California	Artificial Intelligence
Brad Redlien	SANS Technology Institute	Cybersecurity

Preparing the Next Generation of Talent Around the World 

H&P’s commitment to developing future talent extends beyond its U.S. internship program. 

Earlier this summer, Aberdeen students Caoimhe Baker and Julia Iciek joined H&P through the Career Ready program, an initiative that empowers young people from under-represented backgrounds through workplace experiences, career insights and professional connections. 

Over four weeks, the students interviewed colleagues across the Aberdeen office, gathering career advice and learning firsthand about the skills, experiences, and opportunities available across the energy industry. 

Reflecting on the experience, Caoimhe  said: 

“My internship at H&P has been an incredibly valuable experience. It has given me a real insight into what it’s like to work in a professional environment while helping me to develop my communication, teamwork, and organizational skills. From interviewing employees and attending project meetings to speaking with experienced professionals and learning more about careers in law, I’ve gained confidence and knowledge that I know will benefit me in my future education and career. I am very grateful to everyone at H&P for making me feel so welcome and for making the experience both enjoyable and rewarding.” 

Like H&P’s university interns, Caoimhe and Julia gained practical experience, built professional relationships and developed confidence that will help shape their future careers.

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