Celebrating Summer Interns

This summer, Norris Design hosted 12 interns in seven of our nine office locations. In celebration of National Intern Day, we’re sharing a little bit about each of them!

Aidan Nowell

Attends the University of Colorado–Denver and is interning in Denver

What is your favorite animal?

Octopus! 

What song would you pick for karaoke?

“Take on Me” by a-ha

Alison Krausman

Attends the University of Georgia and is interning in Denver

What is a place you would love to visit?

I would love to visit Southeast Asia as I’ve never been outside the Western world!

What superpower would you choose if you could?

I would want to be able to transform into whatever animal I wanted.

Annamaria Pongratz

Attends the University of Arizona and is interning in Tucson

What is your favorite breakfast food?

My favorite breakfast food is hash browns.

What is your favorite movie?

My favorite movie is Grease.

Arlette Castro-Nunez

Attends Texas A&M University and is interning in Austin

What is the best book you’ve read?

The Maze Runner

What is your hidden talent?

I played the accordion for a while.

Daisy Shadley

Attends the Oklahoma State University and is interning in Denver

What would your dream house be like?

I would love an earthbag house. They are very well insulated and you can design them yourself in whatever shapes and sizes you like. They are often built in multiple dome shaped rooms linked together. And you can grow grass and plants on top. I just like the idea of using recycled materials and designing my own place with plants on top.

What song would you pick for karaoke?

I have never done karaoke before… but I’ve always thought that “Magic Man” by Heart would be a fun one or “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane. Someday I’ll give karaoke a shot.

Gavin Smith

Attends Utah State University and is interning in Phoenix

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Up until Landscape Architecture stuck, I changed interests every year or two while growing up. I genuinely wanted to be each of the following as a child: ER Doctor, Lawyer, General Contractor, Mechanical Engineer, Firefighter, Architect, Product Designer, Forest Ranger.

What is your favorite TV show?

I have loved the Star Wars universe since I was a kid. I’ve liked all the shows that have come out but found The Mandalorian to be my favorite so far.

Holly McCloskey

Attends the University of Wisconsin and is interning in Denver

What is your favorite flower or plant?

Babies Breath (ask about my tattoo!)

What is your favorite time of day and why?

Golden Hour – it’s so calming

Jessica Eppard

Attends the University of Arizona and is interning in Flagstaff

What are you excited to learn about the most this summer and/or what is your favorite project you are working on with us right now?

I am most excited to learn more about plants and design! It has been so cool to get to see how all the different professions work together, that just isn’t something you get in school.

What is the best book you’ve read?

The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles) by Patrick Rothfuss

Kendall Shockley

Attends the University of Kentucky and is interning in Fort Collins

What is a place you would love to visit?

Thailand

What is your favorite breakfast food?

Huevos rancheros

Oscar Rodriguez-Ponce

Attends the University of Arizona and is interning in Tucson

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Automotive designer

What is your favorite project you are working on right now?

City of Tucson park enhancements. I’m really enjoying being a part of this project in which we are adding tens of trees to existing parks in central and south Tucson. This being part of the Tucson Million Tree Initiative, I feel like I’m making a positive difference in our communities.

Simon Worthley

Attends Kansas State University and is interning in Phoenix

What is your favorite flower or plant?

My favorite plant is named David, and he is my Douglas Fir Bonsai. I started him out as a seed in January and he has grown big and strong ever since.

What would your dream house be like?

My dream house would be on the minimalist side. It would have furniture (wood) and dished (ceramics) made by yours truly (though I have little experience with wood or clay).

Suzy Su

Attends the University of Virginia and is interning in Dallas

What is your favorite time of day and why?

Nighttime is always good and enjoyable to me, and I always open the window at a fall night and enjoy the cool breeze. When there is some rain patting the window, that would be the best!

Where is the best place you’ve traveled?

Kyoto, Japan. I love Japanese animations, and a lot of animations are based on a real site in Japan – temples and pagodas are one the most historical sites all over the world. The weather is always so nice, just like what I saw in the manga!