The Gateway Scholars pathway unfolds across all four years at Gonzaga. Each year builds on the last — from first exploring and connecting to a paid internship and launching a career.
Year 1 — Explore & Connect
- Learn about McKinstry and engineering career pathways
- Attend info sessions, site visits, and engagement opportunities
Year 2 —Apply & Begin
- Apply in the fall; selected students are admitted to the Scholars cohort
- Receive academic advising aligned to McKinstry-relevant disciplines
- Begin cohort mentorship and career-readiness support
- Complete structured field or industry exposure
Year 3 —Grow & Intern
- Continue mentorship and professional development
- Take industry-aligned coursework and technical electives
- Complete a paid, structured summer internship embedded within a McKinstry project team
Year 4 —Lead & Launch
- Continue industry-aligned coursework and technical electives
- Receive continued cohort mentoring and professional coaching
- Take on advanced project work and real-world problem solving
- Be considered for preferred employment selection and a potential full-time offer